The Influence Of Various Churches Homa-Bay

By Elaine Guthrie


The church plays a crucial part in the lives of people of Homa Bay County in Kenya. There are three main churches Homa-Bay County that assert their dominance and influence in this area. Seventh Day Adventists are considered the majority with Catholics following closely and Anglican Church coming a distant third. The other two denominations with a significant following are Legio Maria and Muslims.

A day cannot go by without residents of this county encountering the church. It is these faith based organizations that are responsible for constructing and sponsoring education institutions. Many residents identify education with certain religious communities, a trend that continues to cement the central role of religious bodies in their lives.

Health care provision remains in the hands of religious organizations. Churches played a crucial role when AIDS ravaged the county leading to many deaths. With a large population being infected or affected, the church had to bear the burden of care. Today, these religious organizations have to take care of a large number of orphans, widows and widowers. It is their health facilities and personnel that provide the much needed health services.

The entry of biblical ministries and evangelical movements into the region cannot be ignored. With the trend rising globally, this receptive society has not been left behind. The evangelicals are scaring mainstream churches and making inroads into their dominance. The evangelical ministries are viewed as attractive based on their manner of worship.

The role of the church in politics cannot go unnoticed. With Seventh Day Adventist being the largest religious group in terms of numbers, it has a significant influence in politics. The other religious groups with tipping power in politics are the Catholic Church and Anglican Church of Kenya. Their dominance follows a similar order. The numbers do not favor the other denominations enough to influence elective politics.

There is a native church that has made huge inroads in this region. Legio Maria is a hybrid of Christianity and Luo traditional worship. Even with the reduced number of followers, its influence can never ignored. The religious nature of the locals contributes to their openness towards religious organizations. Almost all locals are members of one church or the other.

Christ Faith Evangelical Church Homa-Bay, Kenya is among the fastest growing evangelical movements. This is largely because of its form of worship that is expressive and involving. Their dances are vigorous with animated homilies. This touches the core of Dholuo form of worship that sends the faithful into a trance. The use of loud music and vigorous dances is very attractive and has brought the church a large crowd.

Physical addresses of churches in the region are difficult to get considering the rural setting of the county. The address system is practically non-existent. The best way to find a church is through social media or using its website. The people of this region are still eager to receive the gospel of Christ.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment