Economic Factors Hindering Evangelism in the Western District of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania - Iringa Diocese

Abstract

The study aimed to find out the factors hindering evangelism in the Western District of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania-Iringa Diocese. Specifically, the study aimed to examine the economic factors hindering evangelism in the study area. The study was done at Kanani, Kinyika and Pawaga Congregations. The study adopted a case study research design in which a qualitative research approach was used. Interviews were used to collect qualitative data from 90 key informants. The data from the field was prepared, organized, transcribed and reviewed. The results achieved from the study are  evangelism is hindered by economic factors such as  insufficient funds dedicated for evangelism programmes and activities, absence of reliable transport for evangelism work, inadequate and poor church buildings, meagre salaries for ministers and other church workers, unwillingness of the pastors to work at the study area, poor giving of Christians, lack of musical instruments for evangelism work, absence of houses for evangelists, and lack of enough trained ministers caused by insufficient funds. The study recommends that, despite the evangelism which is done in the study area, the Church needs to engage in building better Church buildings, increase payment for church ministers, buy musical instruments and to provide transport facilities to the church ministers to improve worship conditions in the study area. The study also recommends that the Church need to increase the financial capacity by teaching Christians the education of giving tithe to the Church to increase the economy of the Church. Not only that, but the Church needs to engage in projects like tree planting and other productive projects to increase the economy of the Church.