The Great Commission and Presbyterianism

Showcasing Tumutumu Parish, Mathira Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The research article examines the implementation of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20) in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), and focuses on Tumutumu Parish in Mathira Sub-County, Nyeri County, Kenya. It explores the way in which baptism, spiritual growth, and Christian education contributes to the fulfilling of the Great Commission, from conversion to mature discipleship, as theoretically guided by David Bosch’s mission paradigm theory. Using a descriptive design, the study targeted 882 individuals, with 89 participants selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and Focus Group Discussions, and then analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Findings revealed that, despite the presence of mission oriented activities like baptism, spiritual growth initiatives, and Christian education in PCEA Tumutumu parish, these efforts have not led to a meaningful spiritual transformation among the congregants. This disconnect is mainly due to structural weaknesses, including inadequate discipleship, poor baptismal preparation, over-dependence on a single evangelist, and a lack of diverse, structured Christian education programs. It recommends improved baptismal preparations, implementation of structured discipleship, diversifying Christian education, empowering more leaders, and enhancing congregants’ engagement so as to bridge the gap between ecclesiastical activities and spiritual transformation