AMECEA: Small Christian Communities is Anchored on the Word of God: AMECEA’s Pastoral Coordinator

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

The Spiritual strengthening of Christians with the Word of God is the adhesive on which Small Christian Communities (SCCs) is centered, the Pastoral Coordinator for the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) said at a workshop for the lay leadership in the region.

Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo while addressing over 25 pastoral agents in the AMECEA region stressed that that the Word of God in SCCs, “Is the Christian identity, heritage, the dynamic life-shaping power and the perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct.”

“Shared prayer and meditation of the Word of God, speaks to us in our concrete situation where God reveals himself to His people through his Words and deeds and it is where God revealed himself to our ancestors Adam and Eve and invited them to communion with Him,” Fr. Chimombo said on Monday, August 21, during the two-day workshop held at the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) secretariat.

Fr Chimombo added that, the “Outcome of putting the Word of God at the heart and centre of life of SCCs helps members to familiarize themselves with the Word of God and they become an evangelizing community.”

Besides, members relate the Word of God to their daily life experiences, seek and find answers to their concrete life questions from the Word of God and use the teaching of the Word of God to interpret and act upon their complex social world.

He highlighted that, when the Word of God gladden the heart of the people as it happened to the Mother of the saviour when she received the Good News of Jesus’ incarnation (Luke 1:47), then this message “re-assures the people of God that the Gospel brings joy in their lives.”

He addressed the role of priests in promoting the Word of God in SCCs explaining that the servants of God should provide personal accompaniment by “helping the people to appreciate the place of the Word of God in their Christian life, promoting retreats for SCCs with emphasis on the saving power of the Word of God as they promote reading of Bible and Bible stories to youths and children as well as presenting Bible reflection programmes on radio, video and social media.”

Additionally, involvement of priests in strengthening the Word of God in SCCs, “prepares ground for Christian Formation as many get back to faith and sacraments and commit themselves to bring the Good News of Christ into their daily life,” Fr. Chimombo said.