An Evaluation of the effectiveness of Muhadhara (Debate) as a way of Evangelizing Muslims: a case study of the Muslims in Kitale Town District of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Abstract

One of the main tasks that face the Adventist’s message presenter to Muslims is to study the current Islamic style of spreading its teachings and be able to understand its religious practices so that he/she can share with the Muslims the Advent end time message. This study has evaluated the effectiveness of Muhadhara (debate) as a way of evangelizing Muslims: a case study of the Muslims in Kitale town district of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Using data drawn from books, periodicals, the Internet, and oral interviews that addressed Muhadhara (Debate), the researcher established that traditional methods of presenting the gospel through public crusades neither addressed nor met the need of Muslims to make them embrace the gospel (Injil) as the saving power of God, but Muhadhara proved to be effective. This research sought to know the outcome (conversions) of previous Muhadhara. In General, the Muhadhara approach has succeeded to bring four Muslims to the Adventist church in Kitale SDA Church and not only the Muslim community but also from other Christian denomination as well as the so called ‘pagans.’ How has been the nurturing of the new converts from Muslims background to Adventism previously? This has not been well conducted since Adventist members fear those from Muslims background. The perception of Christians on using Muhadhara rather than crusade to Evangelize Muslims has now changed positively. There was a common notion that Mihadhara could easily confuse members who were not properly grounded in their fundamental Christian beliefs, but this study confirmed the opposite.