“Beware of false Pastors”, Bishop warns as Kenyans bid farewell to relocating pastor

Kenyans bid farewell to Rev. Sarah Kibiri, formerly of Jamhuri Gospel church in Worcester. Rev. Kibiri is relocating back to her motherland, Nakuru, Kenya. H.Maina /Ajabu Media.

By Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa, posted July 23, 2011

WORCESTER,Mass.,_Believers were urged to be on the lookout for false pastors among them who might misrepresent the gospel and mislead them into serious problems.

 The warning was sounded off by Bishop Stephen Chege of the Full Glory International Church, based in Nairobi Kenya, during a farewell ceremony for Rev. Sarah Wanjiku Kibiri, a Kenyan pastor who is relocating back to Nakuru, Kenya.

The farewell ceremony, attended by dozens of Kenyans led by about 6 pastors from different African countries took place at the Gospel Power Center in Worcester last Sunday.

During the event, Bishop Chege, who also presided over Rev. Sarah’s colorful and highly attended ordination ceremony last year at the Jamhuri Gospel Church said that he was pleased to be back to Worcester to welcome Pastor Sarah to ministry work in Kenya.

 “As servants of God, we must be at the right place at the right time, and of course doing the right things”, said the fiery Bishop.

 “There was a season and time for Pastor Sarah to come to America and now the time has come for her to go back to Kenya. We must all embrace that”, he added emphatically.

Reading from the book of Ecclesiastes 7: 14, Bishop Chege said that God has made everything for a season and that when things are going well for someone, it is wise to be joyful, and when they are going against their wish, they should pause and consider.
 
He assured Pastor Sarah that all would be well with her as she obeyed the word of God to go and serve in Kenya because that was where God wanted her to be.

“The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord and He delights in them who obey. “To many people, you might be making an awkward move, but to God, you are making the right move”, said the cleric.

He praised the pastor for being a true woman of God who served at the Jamhuri Gospel Church in Worcester with a sincere heart. Pastor Sara had led the church since her ordination last year in October. He also added that she had extended a lot of help to him when he visited Massachusetts to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Stephen Chege, advises Rev. Sarah Kibiri against false priesthood

 “You have an assurance and re-assurance that you are doing the right thing,” said the Bishop.

 He told Pastor Sarah that she was welcome to partner with other teams of pastors ministering in Kenya and asked her to strive to be a good pastor as her calling demanded and  to avoid becoming like some pastors who are known to be serving in the ministry while not doing the right things.

Saying that believers needed to be aware of such pastors, Bishop Chege put them into four main categories.

 The first category, according to the preacher man, is pastors who are called into the ministry by money whereby if there is no money in the church they do not minister.

 The second category is pastors who are called by the people whereby when there are not many people in a church and hence not much in  tithes and offerings, the pastor leaves the church.

 The Bishop also said that a third class of pastors is those who are called into the ministry by demonic spirits. He said that so many people have been imparted with demonic spirits by such people who call themselves pastors.

  “They have a bible in one side and witchcraft on the other. Some of them nowadays have 5 small bottles of anointing oil which they give you and ask you to bring to your house to put in your food or wash with it”, said the pastor to a hushed crowd.

  “From there, people have become demon possessed”, he warned.

However, Bishop Chege said that there is still a class of pastors who are true men of God who have been called by God to the ministry.

 He said that it is regrettable that many people do not have the inner eye or ear to discern the true men of God from the demonic pastors and hence end up being misled.
 
Describing himself as a militant pastor, spiritually spreading nothing but the true word of God, Bishop Chege urged believers to carefully consider who they call their pastor.

  The event was attended by about 10 other pastors from various churches including Rev. Ben Njuru of Gospel Power Center who hosted the farewell party at this church due to the recent re- location of the Jamhuri Gospel Church to a new venue that has yet to be announced.

Pastors who attendend the farewell ceremony for Rev. Sarah Kibiri

  Others were Rev. Ekira Mureithi of St. Johns Anglican Church in Worcester, Pastor David Mbiraru  also of Worcester,  Rev. Charles Kihiko of Calvary Gospel Church in Dracut, Dr. Karimi Mumbui of the Ushindi Church, in Lowell, Rev. Dr. Joseph Kimatu of Tumaini Community Church in Springfield, Rev. Pastor Njururi, Rev. Jackton McBeru, the pastor who had lost his voice but regained  it after surgery that was funded partly by  Kenyans through  a fundraising effort.

 Many of the pastors had kind words of advice and encouragement to Pastor Sarah as she embarked on the journey back to Kenya, likening the move to the Biblical orders to Jonah by God to make a move to preach in Nineveh, a city he did not like.

 “Priesthood is not easy from a female point of view. The responsibilities of priesthood for a woman do not meet the expectations of the community,” said Rev. Ekira Mureithi, a female pastor at the event.

 She added that, if a female pastor goes out the whole day ministering to people, a question is asked.

  “People expect you to be at home. The reality of multi-tasking that goes hand in hand with the moral, social and economic needs of the people you are going to be ministering to is not easy,” she added solemnly.

 However, Rev. Mureithi assured Pastor Sarah that God does not leave the female pastors alone and has promised to give them the power to carry on whatever it takes to do the work.

 She thanked Pastor Sarah for supporting her when she was facing challenge in life and wished her well upon her return to Kenya.

  Speaking on behalf of Jamhuri Gospel Church, Simon Gatongo, the chairman of the church, said that the entire congregation was honored that Pastor Sarah had been their pastor for the last 2 years.

Simon Gatong'o, chairman of Jamhuri church

 “I was sent by members of the Jamhuri Gospel Church to search for a pastor and when I requested Pastor Sarah to serve our church, she immediately accepted and has never disappointed us,” said Gatong’o.

Speaking on behalf of Pastor Sarah’s family, a Worcester elder, Joseph Kenja, congratulated Pastor Sarah for coming to America as a lay person and leaving as a pastor.”

 He also thanked her for deciding to announce her departure, to the community, in a formal way, to avoid rumors.

 “She came here without a title and now she returns to Kenya an ordained minister. She wanted to make sure that those who have walked the long journey with her knew she was leaving”, said Kenja.
 
 Kenja added that he admired Pastor Sarah for conducting herself with honor as a woman of God something that many people can not do since the journey of priesthood is tough.

Joseph Kenja, family spokesman

 “There is a reason why there are only a few pastors and very many professionals. The reason is that the order is tall. People don’t want to start being a pastor then back off when the journey gets tough,” he added

 Kenja thanked other pastors and especially Bishop Chege for supporting Pastor Sarah in her ministry.
 
Speaking to Ajabu Africa at the event, Pastor Sarah thanked Kenyans who have supported her in her tough stint as a pastor in the community and promised to do her best in the new church in Nakuru where she has been invited to be their first pastor.

 “I would like to thank all Kenyans and friends who have supported me throughout my stay in the USA and those who came to see me off today. I wish them well and may God bless you all”, she said.

 The event, that also attracted several gospel artists ended with a dinner and a picture taking ceremony as Kenyans bade farewell to a woman who was not afraid to go back to her motherland despite the trappings of the USA and the uncertainty of opportunities in Kenya.

Kenyans pose for a photo with Rev. Pastor Sarah Wanjiku Kibiri (center) who is relocating back to Kenya. Among the Kenyans was Pastor Jackton Mc.Beru, the pastor who regained his voice after surgery paid for by the Kenyan community in Boston following a strangling attack by mobsters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Check back soon for more pictures

Other Recent Top Ajabu News
AjabuTV- Jersey 254 Watch it now >>
The 2nd Annual Ajabu African awards –it’s all about you!
South Sudan's Critical Question:Can Oil and Water Mix?
King of Ashanti holds talks with EAC Secretary General
SPORTS:Joe Njenga wins Friends’ Golf Tournament
Happy Birthday S. Sudan-Is this the beginning or the end of democracy
Kenyan Pastor Ordained by the IFCA
Flawed E-Verify would derail immigration reform efforts, say experts
Does the Muslim world need women preachers or sex slaves
Pastor Kills Pregnant Girl
$34,400 donated for the ANTOR church building project
Strauss-Kahn, Casey Anthony & the whitewashing of American Justice
Kenyans appear in court over alleged church disturbances
2 Kenyans Arrested at the Ushindi church
Kenyans raise $30,000 for a departed colleague

Back to Home Page