Character development for the contemporary spiritual leaders in the Church of the Nazarene in East Africa viewed through the 'desert experience' of Joseph

The main intention of this study is focused on character development for the contemporary spiritual leaders in the Church of the Nazarene in East Africa. The study is viewed through the lesson drawn from desert experience of the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). The research is limited for the experience of the last twenty one years of the Church of the Nazarene in the character development efforts of her spiritual leaders started 1984 to 2005. The field research covered only three countries Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Sustainability of the trained spiritual leaders has been a problem that needs improvements. The Church's efforts and sacrifices to trained spiritual leaders in East Africa do not match on what is on the ground. This research brought some recommendations based on the Joseph desert experience to minimize the number of those who are falling away.;This field study has identified two major problems through the past twenty one years' experience of the Church of the Nazarene in East Africa. Initially Church identification of genuine called candidates for theological studies and poor pragmatic relationship were the problems. However this study also reveals the serious steps the church has done to reduce the number of falling away from 89% to 22%. The research recommends to use the moral lessons drawn from the desert experience of the story of Joseph. Character of the called one is crucially important for the life of the Church across the ages. The success and the health of Church growth depend very much on the dependable and sustainable character of spiritual leadership. The divine calling is a pre-requisite and a personal invitation to carry out God's agenda. The good character of our candidates' strong relationships with pastors, district superintendents and field strategy coordinators are essential building blocks for healthy church body today and forevermore.;The experiences from the past should be a point of reference not to repeat similar mistakes for a new way forward. Training genuinely called candidates for theological studies and improving quality relationship will minimize the number of those who fall away. God calls and is capable to sustain those who are called. It is hard to surrender those who are genuinely called, though it may be also possible for those who may choose otherwise. The Church of the Nazarene in East Africa can learn from its past experience in order to become a healthy growing Church in the future. Therefore the result of this study can be helpful for spiritual formation for the contemporary character development of her spiritual leaders in the Church of the Nazarene in East Africa.