How Exclusivism of Christian Churches In Kisii Diocese Is a Challenge to Evangelization
Date
2016
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
The Kisii people commonly known as the Abagusii, is an ethnic tribe belonging
to a Bantu group which entered Kenya from the west. They are originally said to have
migrated from Congo Zaire.
Before Christianity was introduced to the abagusii, they believed in one supreme God
who created the world but did not interfere directly in human affairs. The interference
was rather caused by ancestor spirits(ebirecha),witches, and impersonal forces. The
Abagusii believed that displeased ancestor spirits were responsible for disease, the death
of people and livestock, and the destruction of crops.
Today, most people in the Abagusii community claim to be followers of some
form of Christianity. A Roman Catholic mission was first established in 1911 and a
Seventh Day Adventist mission in 1913. There are four major denominations in
Gusiiland: Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist, Swedish Lutheran, and the PentecostalAssemblies of God1. Roman Catholic and SDA cover 80% of Christian
population and other Christian religions cover the rest.
Description
Keywords
Evangelization, Challenge, Kisii Diocese, Churches, Christian, Exclusivism