An introduction to Rooted in Jesus...

"Go, and make disciples ... who will teach others also"
Matthew 28.19 & 2 Timothy 2.2

Rooted in Jesus is a group course in Christian discipleship written for use in Africa. It is the only material of its kind written especially for the use of ordinary African Christians, rather than translated from material developed for the West - where people face different problems and challenges in their Christian lives. Rooted in Jesus is supported by The Mathetes Trust, a UK registered charity, and recommended by the Anglican Communion (for more links click here).

Now in use in many African countries, Rooted in Jesus was originally created in 2002, as part of the link relationship between the Diocese of Leicester and the Diocese of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, at the request of Stanley Hotay, then diocesan missioner and now the bishop.The syllabus was designed by Canon Roger Morgan, and the course was researched, edited and piloted by Revd Dr Alison Morgan, working with a team of clergy, teachers and small group leaders, many of whom had experience of living or working in Africa. Translated into Swahili, it was piloted in the Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro between 2002 and 2005.

Rooted in Jesus is normally introduced to a whole diocese or area, at the invitation of the bishop or denominational leader, by a team of experienced practitioners from the UK and Africa. Because Rooted in Jesus is as much a method as a course, this has proved the best way of establishing it effectively. From its beginning in 2002 in Tanzania, it has now been introduced to over 90 dioceses or networks in 18 African countries, and translated into many languages. We have now trained over 16,000 leaders, and estimate there are up to 100,000 people meeting in Rooted in Jesus groups in these countries, and the number is growing all the time.

Groups are led by pastors, evangelists or catechists, and newly commissioned lay leaders, both men and women. Many of these groups have seen people becoming Christians, experiencing answered prayer, deepening their commitment to one another and to the church, and living changed lives.

Rooted in Jesus is a practical and interactive course. The emphasis is on the active participation of each member of the group through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, so that together they may be built up into the body of Christ and equipped for ministry to others. The material is absorbed and practised orally, and only the group leader needs to be able to read and write. Each lesson is summarised by a memory verse, and members receive certificates when the group completes each of the four books of the course.

There is a companion Rooted in Jesus Junior course for use in Sunday Schools, specially adapted from the adult programme, for use with children aged 8-14; and a parallel adult discipleship programme for use in Western or urban contexts, The God Who is There.

• to see what the course covers click here
• to preview Book 1 on Google Books click here
• to preview Book 1 of Rooted in Jesus Junior on Google books click here
  
• to find out more about how it works in a diocese click here
  
  

"I have no doubt that God has commissioned and anointed this course for Africa in much the same way as he is using Alpha in more urban and 'western' settings. We are already starting to see remarkable things in this Diocese as people and congregations are set on fire with the love of Jesus"- Bishop Martin Breytenbach, Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist, South Africa.

"If the church would revisit the biblical teachings on discipleship it would revive its life and many of its problems would be rectified. Note that simply teaching the Word is not all there is to discipleship. There must be personal involvement, practical training, practical experience and positive role modelling" - Gaspar Kassanda, The crisis of discipleship in East Africa

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust.
More information can be found by following the links to the left.