In each diocese Rooted in Jesus is introduced by a conference which explains the concept of discipleship in small groups and offers training and direct ministry to participants. It is translated into the local language for use in each place. At the moment it is available in 13 languages. Rooted in Jesus teams go at the invitation of the diocesan bishop under the auspices of SOMA (www.somauk.org). From 2008 there are something like 20,000 people meeting in about 2000 groups in the various dioceses where the course is in use.

We have received extraordinary testimonies of the changes in people’s lives and churches from this course; it seems that Rooted in Jesus is a tremendous catalyst for change in places where there are few other Christian resources. Many of the group members are illiterate, and for them this represents their first access to the Bible. Many have become actively involved in the ministry of the church for the first time as a result of their participation in the course.

For an article from ReSource magazine on the origin and development of Rooted in Jesus click here.

Recent reports are as follows:

Diocese of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (from 2002)

Bishops Simon Makundi and John Hayden. Teams led by Alison Morgan.

After 3 training conferences for clergy and evangelists, Rooted in Jesus is in use throughout the diocese; it has been translated into both Swahili and Masai. There are currently something over 3500 people in some 350 groups, of which 156 are in the Kiteto region, 150 in Arusha deanery and the remainder in Babati and Kilimanjaro deaneries. About half these groups are now completing the course, and a new generation of group leaders has just been trained (November 07) in Kiteto. Some of these new leaders are women, and all are lay people; from 2008 there will be 330 groups in Kiteto, some working in Swahili and some in Masai, giving a total of about 520 groups in the diocese as a whole. Group leaders have found that the course has changed people's lives, leading to a renewed church life and to a discernible effect in the community. Many group members testify to the difference that it has made to them to belong to a Rooted in Jesus group - they now have a strong personal prayer life, a greatly increased confidence, and are able to minister actively to others in the church and community.

Pastors and group leaders were given gifts of milk goats to enable them to support their families; this was funded by an appeal in Leicester diocese; the goats were distributed by the DMK Agriculturalist Officer. Each group leader is also provided with a Bible.

There are now 9 deanery coordinators who organise local seminars to encourage and support group leaders. Four of these have travelled with us on teams to other countries.

for a report from Isaiah Chambala click here

for a report from Jacob Lihhima click here

for a report from Bishop John Hayden click here

for a report following the 2007 conferences click here

Dioceses of Kirinyaga, Embu, and Mbeere, Kenya (from 2004)

During the 2004 SOMA/ACK mission to the Province of Kenya, we were able to offer 2 Rooted in Jesus seminars in the united dioceses of East Kenya. Team led by Alison Morgan and Martin Cavender, with Jenny Ridge and Stanley Hotay.

In Kirinyaga diocese Lucy Mgwanja has set up 50 groups in a single deanery. She also uses the material for Sunday school groups. She is translating Rooted in Jesus into Kikuyu, and joined a team in Tanzania recently.

We understand there are groups meeting in the other two dioceses, but we are not sure how many.

Diocese of Luapula, Zambia (from 2005)

The Bishop is Robert Mumbi, the first bishop of this new diocese. Rooted in Jesus was introduced in 2005, having been translated into Bemba. Team led by Alison Morgan, with John Lee, Mike Hutchinson, Mark Bedford and Hils Revill.

Individual clergy began using Rooted in Jesus in their parishes with great success, but due to distance and lack of resources it took a little while to establish it as a diocesan-wide programme.

The bishop asked for a review of progress at the diocesan clergy conference in January 07, and it was agreed that Rooted in Jesus is a key programme for the diocese. To this end, a clergy re-orientation conference was held in February 07. A coordinator has been appointed for each archdeaconry, the training chaplain Fr Erwin Tembo has been charged with training the lay readers to lead groups, and a new overall coordinator is in place, Fr Cornelius Chalwe. A resolution was passed in August that all lay readers in the diocese must hold a Rooted in Jesus certificate before they may be licensed. In August and September 2007 Fr Chalwe trained over 1000 Mothers Union representatives to lead groups; Rooted In Jesus will now be used 'in all branches and at all gatherings'. Certificates have been issued to those who have completed book 1. Cornelius reports that in his own parish 'the life of the Congregation is never the same, and Jesus is touching people’s lives'.

'Bishop Robert Mumbi reported in January 07 on the progress of the Rooted in Christ programme that had been initiated by the Revd Alison Morgan and a SOMA Group in August 2005. Those clergy who have used the course have found the material very good for teaching at all levels, and plans are being made for the Training Chaplain Fr Erwin Tembo to run seminars in archdeaconries for lay readers. They could then use the material for confirmation classes and bible study in small groups in their communities'. Bath & Wells diocesan newsletter, May 2007.

for up to date reports by Cornelius Chalwe click here

Diocese of Niassa, Mozambique (from May 2006)

Bishop Mark Van Koevering. Team led by Alison Morgan, with Martin Cavender, David Cundill and Stanley Hotay.

Rooted in Jesus has been translated into Portuguese, Chichewa, and 4 other local languages (Yao, Makua, Senna and Lomwe), and introduced in 2 clergy conferences in May 2006. The diocese is experiencing rapid and challenging church growth. It covers a remote area 3x size of UK with fewer than 50 clergy. After 30 years of war there is great poverty, and recent flooding and a cyclone have exacerbated this.

Rooted in Jesus is seen as a key part of the diocesan strategy, and is currently used for

	Discipleship groups for new Christians
	Churchplanting in new areas, especially amongst the Muslim Yao people where there has been little Christian witness
	Catechist training – most have had none at all. All new catechists are now required to complete a Rooted in Jesus course as the main element of their training.
	Confirmation classes – the church is growing extremely fast, and all those presented for confirmation are prepared through Book 1 of Rooted in Jesus

In April 07 we returned to offer further training for the catechists and evangelists of Lago archdeaconry; these conferences were repeated in the other archdeaconries by Amorim Rocha, the diocesan administrator responsible for Christian mission and formation throughout the diocese. From November 2007 Oscar Hamsine has been appointed to oversee the Rooted in Jesus programme as it expands. Bishop Mark writes: 'I have just returned from Mecanhles where we have grown from 6 churches in 2006 to 23. This year at least one Rooted course will be held in each of the communities. I was told that the literacy groups we had started like the course so much they wanted to meet daily rather than each week. We have made some good progress in a recent retreat with clergy about implementing Rooted in Jesus and have pledged ourselves to starting 1,000 groups in 2008!'

Helen Van Koevering writes (May 2008): Recent figures show that the diocese has increased 25% in numbers in the past 4 years to about 51,000 now. The MU has increased by about 30% in past 18 months, with lots of activity in all sorts of projects. On all levels and in all church organizations, we are encouraging participation in Rooted in Jesus for discipling, and the priests are much more actively involved now too. The excitement of being church is palpable, quite different to when we came back in 2003. Even a visiting South African Bishop commented on the change. Getting together, whether in small groups or large Diocesan events, has made all the difference... Last weekend, 15 were confirmed in my (new, almost finished) church having completed two books - the first lot of confirmations following the introduction of Rooted in Jesus. One whole family was baptised, a single mother with 3 children, all raised Muslims - the mother, Paulina, was confirmed too.

for a report from Amorim Rocha click here

Diocese of Kumi, Uganda (from August 2006)

Bishop Thomas Erigei, programme overseen by Canon John Omagor, Diocesan Mission Coordinator.

Team led by Revd John Lee, with Claire Greaves, Geoff Stokes, Jenny Green and Mike Hutchinson. 3 conferences in the 3 archdeaconries, in August 06. 200 people attended the conference, some but not all of whom held leadership responsibilities.

Groups have now been established, and are as far as we understand going well. Some have completed book 1 and members have received certificates.

Rooted in Jesus will be used in Ateso.

Diocese of Bungoma, Kenya (from December 2006)

Team led by Revd David Munby as part of his ongoing support for the diocese.

They trained 25 evangelists and 5 clergy as part of a wider conference brief, and some groups have now started. A return visit in February 2009 found that despite the troubles Kenya is currently facing,

Some groups were still continuing. The Provost was using it very successfully in his cell groups and also amongst the displaced people he was caring for.

So praise God.

Diocese of Southern Malawi (from April 2007)

Bishop James Tengatenga. Team led by Alison Morgan, with John Watson, John McGinley and Isaiah Chambala. Revd John McGinley will lead a team to offer further support in August 2008.

The plan is to use Rooted in Jesus is throughout the diocese for evangelism and discipleship, in groups led by clergy and lay leaders. The diocese has only 17 clergy, and many churches depend on dedicated lay leadership. Rooted in Jesus is seen as a key new strategy in a diocese which has hitherto relied on crusades for its evangelism, and is now looking to develop an effective strategy for lay discipleship. The programme will be overseen by Martin Mlaka, Evangelism Coordinator.

The groups got off to a good start with a pilot project in one parish and other groups meeting elsewhere. In 2008 a training programme is being established for the catechists, who will use Rooted in Jesus to disciple those who respond to the gospel at evangelistic crusades. Martin Mlaka writes: 'For over three decades, the Anglican diocese of southern Malawi has involved itself in crusades but without a proper tool for follow-up. It is in this regard that we find the Rooted in Jesus material and methods helpful to nature the converts right immediately after each crusade. Soon after their training, we are going to deploy the catechists one by one at each place we have a church planting crusade and where the congregations are at establishment stage.'

Rooted in Jesus will be used in Chichewa and Chiyao.

Diocese of Nord-Kivu, DR Congo (from November 07)

Bishops Muthesela Munzenda and Enoch Kayeeye.

Team led by Revd Simon Brignall, November 07, following a preparatory visit last year, in conjunction with CMS Ireland; with Geoff Stokes, Joshua Opondo and Jacob Lihhima.

DR Congo is emerging from 40 years of civil war, during which most of its infrastructure has been destroyed. In this diocese alone, which is 4 times the size of the UK (but has only 2 km of tarmac road!), it is estimated that 4 million people have died. The church is the only functional institution in much of the country, and people are turning to it in large numbers. Despite the inevitable lack of resources and education (many of the senior church leaders have never had the opportunity to study beyond primary school level), morale is good, and the diocese has identified the need to train leaders and plant churches throughout this remote region as its top priority. Rooted in Jesus will be a key part of this strategy. During this first visit, 180 leaders were trained, and the archdeacons now plan to train further leaders from among the evangelists and catechists.

Rooted in Jesus will be used in Swahili.

for a report from Simon Brignall click here

Diocese of S Rwenzori, Uganda (from May 2008)

Bishop Jackson Nzerebende. Team led by Stephen Dinsmore, with Sonja Arnold and Alex Scott.

This diocese borders Nord Kivu, DR Congo, and the Lhukonzo language is spoken on both sides of the border. The team ran three conferences, attended by the priests, and the parish mission coordinator and senior lay reader from each parish - a total of some 130-140 people in all. Rooted in Jesus was received with enthusiasm, and Bishop Jackson has appointed Revd James Tumeske, a Church Army captain and the diocesan mission coordinator, coordinator of the new groups, together with his assistant William.

Rooted in Jesus will be used in Lhukonzo.

Diocese of Eastern Zambia (from June 2008)

Bishop William Mchomboh. Team led by Alison Morgan, with Amorim Rocha, Amanda Johnson, Nigel Rawlinson and Charles Mchomboh.

The Diocese of Eastern Zambia is a small but determined diocese with 8 priests and over 100 lay readers, most of whom are responsible for a congregation. We were invited by Bishop William to lead three Rooted in Jesus conferences in Chipata, Mfuwe and Petauke. The conferences, which had been carefully prepared, were attended by all the clergy and by some 180 lay leaders, both men and women. Some of those attending had walked or cycled up to 86 km to meet with us, and all were anxious to grow both personally and ministerially. Each of the 11 parishes formed a parish plan, and most will start groups at the beginning of July. The programme will be overseen by Fr Jolophan Phiri, Canon Missioner for the diocese and archdeacon of Petauke, with the assistance of his deputy Susan Mumba.

Rooted in Jesus will be used in Chichewa (chinyanja).

for a report on the conferences click here

Forthcoming trips

Diocese of S Malawi (August 2008)

A return visit to support the development of Rooted in Jesus in this diocese. Team to be led by John McGinley.

Covenant Church International (March 2009)

An invitation from Revd David Kereto to work with the 300 CCI churches in Kenyan Maasailand. Team to be led by Alison Morgan.

Alison Morgan home page Rooted in Jesus is published by ReSource