Elders "Kick Age" as Church offers Thanks Giving
 Left to right, elders of the International House of Worship church in Braintree , Pastor Joram Karanja, Pastor James Kori, Stephen Kahuki and William Kimani perform a vigorous for God during the a thanks giving service held on Sunday November 1st. |
Story and pics by Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News
BRAINTREE, Mass. NOVENBER 8_ Men elders of the new International House of Worship church in Braintree, Mass.. decided that enough is enough with the commonly known stiff way of praise and worship by Kenyans in the church when they surprised guests with a sterling performance fit enough to challenge the youth.
Led by their senior Pastor, Joram Karanja and the assistant pastor, James Kori, the men staged a vigorous shuffle dance in tune with a rhythmic gospel song blaring from the loud speakers during thanks giving ceremony held last Sunday at their almost one year old location at the Elks Lodge on 205 Elm street, in Braintree.
Cheering church members and guests watched as the men easily slid from left to right, back to front, twisting and bending, while occasionally kicking a foot to initiate a turn in a well rehearsed dance that was meant to display the vigor people need to bring to church as they dance for God.
Continued below
Fundi wa mbao( Swahili for a carpenter );
A young man knocks out his shoes for better performance imitating a carpenter's woodworking moves like Jesus's father, Joseph |
Luo Worship: Rosemary Nyamoki performs a sweet Luo worship song |
Pastor Joram Karanja preaching during the thanks giving service |
“Boring praise and worship is why many young people do not want to go to church anymore", said pastor Kori.
He said that the men of the International House of Worship have realized that if they don’t change, there will be only old men in the churches very soon as all the youth will disappear.
"So we shall dance like you have never seen before”, promised pastor Kori, who doubled as the mcee for the event just before the sterling performance.
Earlier before the men took the stage, guests who came from several different churches from around the south shore area, were amazed when a young man knocked out his shoes to get a better grip of the floor as the youths danced to the popular gospel song, Fundi wa Mbao , Swahili for carpenter, by a Kenyan gospel outfit, Zaidi ya Muziki.
The young man proceeded to imitate a carpenter’s moves as he danced together with the youth group, sometimes spinning on the floor.
Not to be outdone, the women’s choir of the church tried to beat the more agile performers by coordinating their vocal chords in a better fashion than the men.
Preaching after the performances, Pastor Joram Karanja encouraged Christians everywhere not to stay away from church because they felt guilty if misdeeds.
"Don't loose faith in God, because he is a forgiving God", said the fiery Pastor.
The new church has been growing by leaps and bounds since it’s inception in the summer of last year, attracting increasing numbers of youthful Kenyans from the South Shore and beyond.
Ladies cut a cake to celebrate thanks giving |
Other churches which were represented at the ceremony included Saint James African Community church in Attleboro, All Saints Anglican Church in Quincy and the new Saint Luke’s Church in Abington.
Also present for the occasion were 3 local Kenyan gospel artists, Florence Kimotho, Sheii and a Rosemary Nyamoki.
Nyamoki is a new artist who performed a moving Luo worship tune.
Several new visitors introduced themselves including some who had just recently arrived from Kenya.
The event ended with cutting of a cake to mark a milestone in the growth of the church followed by a fully fledged lunch of traditional Kenyans cuisine including Nyama choma, Chapati, rice pilau , samosa fruit salad and soft drinks.
“This was a fun day here today”, said Stephen Kahuki, one of the church elders of the church from Brockton. We can’t even wait for the first annual anniversary”, he added with a tone of optimism and excitement.
To learn more about the church, visit the church website at www.theihow.net
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