The role of youth culture in holistic faith formation of youth in Nairobi : a practical theological approach

Abstract

Faith or spiritual formation studies the practices that nurture the spiritual lives of young people including preaching, scriptural engagement, prayer, and discipleship. On the other hand, young people are not isolated but are usually shaped by several factors. These influencers include popular youth culture, parenting, and peers. Although each of these areas are crucial, the researcher explores the specific area of youth cultures and sub-cultures and their pertinence for faith formation. Serious attention is given to culture because it is argued that parents and peers are successful influencers in so far as they can successfully penetrate this cultural milieu of the young person in Africa today. The necessity arises from “faith malformation” seen in the reality of disengaged youth in the Church and de-churched young people outside the Church, who both are navigating traditional cultures and western postmodernity. Much has been written from a Western perspective, but this theological study seeks to consider the “cultural fluency” needed in a plural and contemporary African context. The particular context of the study will be youth in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) in Nairobi city which will be investigated through a qualitative methodology. This is a practical theological research that explores the need of ongoing reflection of youth ministry in light of relevant theory and praxis. Additionally, it is based theoretically in the four-fold approach of Richard Osmer and grounded in the reformed-evangelical tradition. It is hoped that such an engagement can enrich faith formation in a holistic manner. Holistic faith formation will be considered through an interdisciplinary engagement of human development, anthropological research, and theological reflection. The study also explores the implications for theological education, youth ministry and congregational life.