A Theory of Lay Ministry Praxis Kenya Assemblies of God Denomination Nairobi County How can Christian church leaders best empower lay Christians to serve one another in acts of ministry in their respective local churches? High quality lay mutual ministry is judged to be the priority as a church seeks to undertake convincing evangelism. The author embraces the empirical and biblical perspective that, if you believe in the Body of Christ, you must demonstrate it in concrete reality. In this research, Christ's words, that if Christians love one another the world will know that they are Disciples of Christ, is empirically proven as a fundamental principle of the health of the church and its growth. The identity of any local church, the various competencies involved in church leadership, the quality of lay training provided, gift-based ministries and the socio-cultural contexts of a local church - these are, in this order, the determining factors for the effectiveness of lay mutual ministry. They form a critical model of lay ministry that all churches, from all denominations, theological persuasions, geographical locations and socio-cultural contexts from all over the world, will find useful. No church can afford to ignore them. A useful and innovative contribution to this developing area of church growth especially for African style churches but also for the growing number of new 'community style' churches in the UK, many of whom are looking for structures to their lay leadership involvement and training. The emphasis upon mentoring is especially helpful. Although Kenyan in context it has a cross-cultural application and is worthy of a widespread readership. --Dr. Richard Massey. Former Principal of Birmingham Bible Institute, Birmingham Christian College, Selly Oak How do lay people in Kenyan Assemblies of God serve each other? What environments help them do this well? Such are some of this book's key questions. And the key answer? An identity in Christ, rather than ethnicity or culture, is vital. In reaching this and other conclusions, Duke Fitz-Theodore Randolph's ground-breaking research takes congregational studies beyond the West and makes a significant contribution to empirical theology. This book should help with the training of future leaders and the release of lay people into their God-given ministries in Africa and elsewhere. I warmly commend it. --Dr. William P. Atkinson, Senior Lecturer in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies, London School of Theology Duke Fitz-Theodore Randolph is Associate Professor of Ministry, Global University. He is also Founder and Director of Empowerment Missions International, a charity and church ministry operating in the UK and East Africa, established to help put into practice his 'Theory of Lay Ministry Praxis.' Duke has served with the Kenya Assemblies of God as church planter, pastor and Bible School teacher in Nairobi, Kenya between 1995 and 2003. In 2014, he graduated from the University of Bangor, with a Ph.D. Degree in Theology and Religious Studies, concentrating on Practical Theology, with a specialty in Lay Ministry.
