The Impact of Seventh Day Adventist Church’s Pastoral Ministry on Women: a Case Study of Suba Sub-county, Homa Bay County in Kenya

Abstract

This study investigated the role of the SDA Church of Kenya in ministering to contemporary African Mothers in Gwassi Sub-Station (Suba Sub-County). The main objective of this study was to explore the impact of the Seventh Day Adventists Pastoral Ministry on women, by focusing on Adventist women in Suba Sub- County. It points to the Church that African mothers have been crying for liberation, as they have been experiencing a serious ministerial gap in their lives. The study was conducted using a case study research design. The researcher undertook an intensive analysis on the prevailing situation using in-depth knowledge of the study variables. The study also employed stratified random sampling technique where various categories of leaders and women in the Church were interviewed. The total number of respondents in the study was 300. A questionnaire was administered to single women, widows, women in polygamous marriages and men. Focused group discussions targeting all women in the Church, pastors and elders were also employed. The study established that the work of SDA Church has not yielded much success in. leadership. This has made many women join other churches in the Sub-Station. The study has also revealed that African mothers continue to suffer marginalization within the SDA Church and the church has ignored their plight. The study concluded that, there are many women suffering in Suba Sub-County, but the Church has kept quiet concerning their plight and is only interested in their numerical and financial benefit. The research recommended effective Pastoral Ministry guidance for pre-marital and postmarital counseling programs, inclusion of women in leadership positions and a review of Church doctrines which could be relevant to issues affecting African mothers.