Ethnic Churches bring Revival to NE, says Anglican Bishop

A section of the members of Saint Paul Community church in Lawrence during a special sercice held at the church last week . pic by H.Maina/Ajabu

By Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News

LAWRENCE, Mass. , APRIL 30_The new Kenyan Bishop in charge of the Anglican Church of Kenya Diocese of New England, Bishop Bill Murdoch, has praised the work being done by the Kenyan clergy and other ethnic churches in promoting the word of God in New England. He asked them to keep pursuing God with all their energy, saying God is good all the time.

Bishop Murdock was speaking last week during a Sunday service at the Saint Paul’s Anglican Church in Lawrence, Mass., during a routine visit.

He said that since he travelled to Nairobi Kenya in 2007 to be ordained as a Bishop serving under the Anglican church of Kenya, which oversees the Kenyan Community churches of the Anglican faith in New England, he felt much honored and will strive to do his best to serve the people of God.

Before being ordained as a Bishop under the Kenyan Anglican diocese, Bishop Murdock was a leader at the Episcopal Church, which is the American version of the Anglican Church. He therefore worked with various Kenyan community Anglican churches in serving the spiritual needs of their members.

However, he left the Episcopal body following a split between the Anglican church of Kenya and their American counterparts, over the issue of ordaining same sex church leaders, and particulary over the issue or ordaining a gay Bishop in New Hampshire. The Kenyan church said the move was against Biblical teaching.

As a result, the Kenyan community Anglican churches in America that were under the Episcopal church inevitably decided to side with the position of the Kenyan Anglican church, a position taken virtually by all other Anglican churches from all over Africa.

It was at this point that Bishop Murdock, alongside Bishop Bill Atwood and The Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey, decided to align themselves with the belief of the African Anglican churches.The Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey, became Church of Uganda Bishop for Congregations in America.

Bishop Bill Murdock, the new Bishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya Diocese of New England

They therefore went to different countries where they had ties, and got ordained there to serve the citizens of those countries who are members of the Anglican Church, but living in the USA.

Consequently the Anglican Church of Kenya decided to form several chapters (dioceses) to serve their flock in the USA, and welcomed Bishop Bill Murdock, and Bishop Bill Atwood of Texas, to be ordained as the overseers since the Kenyan Anglican Bishops could not effectively serve their American members from Kenya.

Bishop Murdock and Bishop Atwood  were ordained in August 2007 by the then Archbishop of the Anglican church of Kenya, Bishop Benjamin Nzimbi, a day that Bishop Murdock remembered  last Sunday. “I can still remember so many people coming together in praise, singing Tukutendelaza,” said Murdock causing laughter at how well a Mzungu (white man), could pronounce the Swahili word literally meaning “We will praise and worship you immensely”.

He now proudly serves the Kenyan Anglican Diocese of New England that comprises of three churches, the Saint Paul’s Anglican Church in Lawrence, led by Rev. Peter Gachathi, Saint Luke's church in Malden led by Rev. George Gitau (Father George) and the Saint James’ church in Attleboro led by Rev. Paul Mwaniki.

Rev. Gachathi was recently ordained as the Venerable or archdeacon of the three churches to assist Bishop Murdock.

The Most Reverend, Eliud Wabukala, head of the Anglican Church of Kenya

Recently, the new Archbishop of the Anglican church of Kenya, His Grace the Most Reverend, Eliud Wabukala, elected after the retirement of Bishop Benjamin Nzimbi, visited their New England Bishop and brought him to meet with Kenyans at the saint Paul’s church in Lawrence. Bishop Wabulaka was on his way from attending the GlobalAnglican Future Conference (GAFCON-website) meeting held in Bermuda.

During that meeting, Bishop Wabulala asked Kenyans in the Diaspora to do more at helping make Kenyan a better place by increasing heir investments back home as well as take part at initiating various projects that might help their brothers and sisters.

He also called upon church members to cultivate a better relationship between the church and the government in order to help improve the living standards of the people.

During the recent Sunday service, Bishop Murdock said that ethnic churches are playing a very important role in restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ in America today.

He said that recently, he attended a big meeting at the Jubilee church in Boston attended by churches from over 108 countries.

Soldiers in the Army of God: Children of Saint Paul Community church performing a song

During the event, Bishop Murdock said, the organizers called out loudly 33 ethnic churches from the New England area that were represented at the meeting.

“I stood up and said, wait a minute; I did not hear Kenya called out here. That means we were 33 ethnic churches here not 32,” he told them.

The surprised Bishop Murdock added that the organizers responded by telling Bishop Murdock that “you don’t look like you are from Kenya,” although they were glad to add Kenya to the list. “I am a Kenyan,” Bishop Murdock said jokingly.

During the Sunday service, Bishop Murdock presented a certificate to Rev. Mercy Maina from Worcester, who was now licensed to serve alongside Rev. Gachathi at Saint Paul’s community church.

Bishop Bill Murdoch presents a license to Mercy Maina of saint Paul Community church in Lawrence Ma

“I am honored to be able to serve God in this church and will represent you well in the this church,” said Rev. Maina shortly after receiving his license to serve.

Bishop Murdoch also granted certificates of membership to many members of the increasingly growing church.

In his remarks, Rev. Gachathi  thanked Bishop Murdock for taking time to visit and worship with the church, a sentiment that was amplified by the master of ceremonies, Kibaii Gikuyu during a vote of thanks.

The special service took place one week before the upcoming 5th Annual celebrations for this church that will take place this coming Sunday at the church located at 112 Andover Street in Lawrence.
The ceremony is expected to draw large crowds of Kenyan faithful and their friends.

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