‘Any more questions?’ asks the moderator as the clock ticks 8:15. The audience looks
back at him, no hand shooting up. He raises his eyebrows in contentment and hands the
microphone back to the panellists seated in a line behind the table at the front of the
audience. The one in the middle, Pastor Murungi Igweta, takes the microphone, steps
forward and proceeds to give the closing remarks. Before he prays to conclude, he dares
the audience to take the Scriptures for all they clearly say, as a rule for Christian doctrine
and practice. The day’s main concerns seem to have been sufficiently addressed: The
Bible does tell us who should be a church leader, how we should respond to them, and
the issue of women pastors. The topic was ‘Church Leadership’. The crowds stream out as
a few young men hustle to remove the sound system from the meeting hall. The month
of May’s Meaty Forum has just ended. Next month’s topic will be communicated to
them via social media.
Such are the monthly events that have been taking place in Nairobi Baptist Church since April of last year (2012). A group of youth calling themselves ‘Kingdom Republik’, largely members of Trinity Baptist Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church, came together for the idea. They were seeking to create a context to spread the gospel and address false teachings and errors of their contemporary culture. Hot at that point was the ever-so- resilient prosperity gospel which seems to have a thousand ugly heads.
The Meaty Forum is a ministry of Trinity Baptist Church, Donholm. Thus far God has enabled the forum to tackle several topics and try to present a Biblical perspective to them the topics include: ‘What is Truth?’, The Authority of Scripture, Sin, The Sovereignty of God, Church Leadership, Blessings and Curses, Genuine Conversion, the relationship between Gospel and politics, the Church, Church Leadership, among others. I talked with Charles Ndung’u, one of the organizers of the Meaty Forum, and got the following interview:
G&T: So, why the name 'Meaty Forum'?
Charles: The name meaty forum came about from the fact that Paul used to call the weighty matters of the faith as meat as opposed to milk
G&T: When was the idea for the MF hatched?
Charles: The idea was hatched by David Kuria [one of the leaders of the group] in around 2011 [towards] the end [of that year].
G&T: As regards these 'weighty matters of the faith', how do you arrive on which matter to discuss every forum?
Charles: We have a Meaty Forum committee that meets each month where we discuss the topics and then pass them to our Elders/pastors at Trinity Baptist for approval
G&T: What is the Meaty Forum trying to achieve?
Charles: [The Meaty Forum’s] objective is to bring back the biblical truths that have been neglected in the modern church. And to expose the lies that are being propagated by wolves in sheep's skin
G&T: Why does the MF choose to work with Trinity Baptist, or any church for that matter?
Charles: MF is a ministry of TBC which is a church that has endeavoured to stay true to the word. We also work with others from especially Emmanuel Baptist Church [a church with] which we agree on fundamental truths.
Such are the monthly events that have been taking place in Nairobi Baptist Church since April of last year (2012). A group of youth calling themselves ‘Kingdom Republik’, largely members of Trinity Baptist Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church, came together for the idea. They were seeking to create a context to spread the gospel and address false teachings and errors of their contemporary culture. Hot at that point was the ever-so- resilient prosperity gospel which seems to have a thousand ugly heads.
The Meaty Forum is a ministry of Trinity Baptist Church, Donholm. Thus far God has enabled the forum to tackle several topics and try to present a Biblical perspective to them the topics include: ‘What is Truth?’, The Authority of Scripture, Sin, The Sovereignty of God, Church Leadership, Blessings and Curses, Genuine Conversion, the relationship between Gospel and politics, the Church, Church Leadership, among others. I talked with Charles Ndung’u, one of the organizers of the Meaty Forum, and got the following interview:
G&T: So, why the name 'Meaty Forum'?
Charles: The name meaty forum came about from the fact that Paul used to call the weighty matters of the faith as meat as opposed to milk
G&T: When was the idea for the MF hatched?
Charles: The idea was hatched by David Kuria [one of the leaders of the group] in around 2011 [towards] the end [of that year].
G&T: As regards these 'weighty matters of the faith', how do you arrive on which matter to discuss every forum?
Charles: We have a Meaty Forum committee that meets each month where we discuss the topics and then pass them to our Elders/pastors at Trinity Baptist for approval
G&T: What is the Meaty Forum trying to achieve?
Charles: [The Meaty Forum’s] objective is to bring back the biblical truths that have been neglected in the modern church. And to expose the lies that are being propagated by wolves in sheep's skin
G&T: Why does the MF choose to work with Trinity Baptist, or any church for that matter?
Charles: MF is a ministry of TBC which is a church that has endeavoured to stay true to the word. We also work with others from especially Emmanuel Baptist Church [a church with] which we agree on fundamental truths.
G&T: Why not just be an independent group (without being under TBC)?
Charles: We believe ministry should always be done by a group which has been sent out by a local church. It also ensures accountability
G&T: That’s commendable, brother. I wish other ‘ministries’ out there would realize that. Onto current matters now: Which issue will you be discussing in the next Meaty Forum in June, and how do you think the modern church has neglected/abused that particular truth?
Charles: As I said earlier we are talking about the biblical truths. [We will be discussing the topic ‘The Church’]; meaning the standards that God has set for His church.
G&T: Thanks, I appreciate that. Your answers ziko poa sana (your answers are very good). How would you evaluate the progress of the Meaty Forum so far? Do you think it's within the original vision or has it gradually developed into something different? Charles: I believe the Meaty Forum is growing in that in the past year we have learnt a lot and also we are hoping to expand it. But the core reason we started with [still] remains.
G&T: Thank you.
Charles: Any other question?
MF: How do you dream of expanding the Meaty Forum, as you’ve said?
Charles: We are hoping to see how we can organize the Meaty Forum in campuses and also eventually have it taking place in different parts of this nation
MF: It must be a journey for you and the rest of the team. Tell me, how have you (or other guys in the team) grown through participation in the Meaty Forum?
Charles: When we started we thought we knew a lot of the answers to tough questions. But we have been greatly humbled and have grown in knowledge in the past year.
G&T: Amen. Semper Reformanda. Any challenges?
Charles: Our biggest challenge remains getting a venue closer to the city centre for easier access.
G&T: Any comments about the panellists?
Charles: God has graciously provided us with great panellist in the past year including Pastor Keith Underhill, Pastor Murungi Igweta, Pastor Ken Mbugua, [Ronald Kalifungwa of Zambia, Joshua Karani of Faith Reformed Baptist], Dan Huffsturtler, Chris Kiagiri, Chris Gatihi and other teachers with the wisdom to teach.
G&T: How can you evaluate their participation so far?
Charles: The panellists have played their role so we'll that many times there is no question still lingering on peoples’ minds on a topic
G&T: Can you say that the MF pushes for the spread of Reformed Theology in Kenya?
Charles: If by Reformed Theology you mean fighting as the early Reformers did to fight for the Church to go back to being guided by the word, if God has spoken through the Bible, then yes that's what we are trying to do
G&T: What would you say to other youth groups doing ministries like the MF?
Charles: I would tell other youth to serve the Lord while we are young but to do it under the wise guidance of our older members of our churches
G&T: Thank you for the interview, brother, any closing remarks?
Charles: Everyone is invited to come to the Meaty Forum every second Friday of the month at Nairobi Baptist from 5:30 to 8 pm
(Reviews of the monthly Meaty Forum can be found at www.kajvincent.wordpress.com)
Charles: We believe ministry should always be done by a group which has been sent out by a local church. It also ensures accountability
G&T: That’s commendable, brother. I wish other ‘ministries’ out there would realize that. Onto current matters now: Which issue will you be discussing in the next Meaty Forum in June, and how do you think the modern church has neglected/abused that particular truth?
Charles: As I said earlier we are talking about the biblical truths. [We will be discussing the topic ‘The Church’]; meaning the standards that God has set for His church.
G&T: Thanks, I appreciate that. Your answers ziko poa sana (your answers are very good). How would you evaluate the progress of the Meaty Forum so far? Do you think it's within the original vision or has it gradually developed into something different? Charles: I believe the Meaty Forum is growing in that in the past year we have learnt a lot and also we are hoping to expand it. But the core reason we started with [still] remains.
G&T: Thank you.
Charles: Any other question?
MF: How do you dream of expanding the Meaty Forum, as you’ve said?
Charles: We are hoping to see how we can organize the Meaty Forum in campuses and also eventually have it taking place in different parts of this nation
MF: It must be a journey for you and the rest of the team. Tell me, how have you (or other guys in the team) grown through participation in the Meaty Forum?
Charles: When we started we thought we knew a lot of the answers to tough questions. But we have been greatly humbled and have grown in knowledge in the past year.
G&T: Amen. Semper Reformanda. Any challenges?
Charles: Our biggest challenge remains getting a venue closer to the city centre for easier access.
G&T: Any comments about the panellists?
Charles: God has graciously provided us with great panellist in the past year including Pastor Keith Underhill, Pastor Murungi Igweta, Pastor Ken Mbugua, [Ronald Kalifungwa of Zambia, Joshua Karani of Faith Reformed Baptist], Dan Huffsturtler, Chris Kiagiri, Chris Gatihi and other teachers with the wisdom to teach.
G&T: How can you evaluate their participation so far?
Charles: The panellists have played their role so we'll that many times there is no question still lingering on peoples’ minds on a topic
G&T: Can you say that the MF pushes for the spread of Reformed Theology in Kenya?
Charles: If by Reformed Theology you mean fighting as the early Reformers did to fight for the Church to go back to being guided by the word, if God has spoken through the Bible, then yes that's what we are trying to do
G&T: What would you say to other youth groups doing ministries like the MF?
Charles: I would tell other youth to serve the Lord while we are young but to do it under the wise guidance of our older members of our churches
G&T: Thank you for the interview, brother, any closing remarks?
Charles: Everyone is invited to come to the Meaty Forum every second Friday of the month at Nairobi Baptist from 5:30 to 8 pm
(Reviews of the monthly Meaty Forum can be found at www.kajvincent.wordpress.com)
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