Immigration and giving: Stop being thorny to fellow countrymen and God
Kenyans holds hands in prayer for unity among Kenyans and among Kenyan churches in the USA during an Easter celebration service held at the MLK last Sunday.On the front row, left to right is Newton Kinnity, a community organizer from New haven, Connecticut , Rev. Joseph Kimatu , pastor of the Tumaini church and a Kenyan lady elder.
By Our writer, AjabuAfrica News
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., APRIL 2 _Kenyans celebrating a quarterly meeting - cum Easter celebration were stunned when pastors said that it has become a practice for some Kenyans to call immigration officials on fellow nationals at the slightest disagreement while others bring empty envelops to the offerings baskets during community prayer meetings.
The developments, that have been festering in the shadows for many years are not confined in the Kenyans community alone, but widespread among all the various African immigrant communities in the USA.
The ‘man eat man’ behavior on immigration is getting worse at a time when many well meaning leaders in the US are trying to reform the immigration laws in the country to allow a dignified normalization of those immigrants whose documents are expired or have none at all.
However, this came to light at a meeting held at the Martin Luther King Community center in Springfield, Mass., organized jointly by the Tumaini Community church and the International Fellowship church, the only Kenyan community churches in the area, and with the blessings of the Kenya Pastor’s Fellowship Association.
During the event, Rev. Ephantus Karanja of the PEFA church in Malden decried the growing trend where when some Kenyans disagree on issues, they turn their vengeance on their fellow countrymen by calling the immigration officials in situations where the affected parties are having issues with their status.
Dr. Rev. Ephantus Karanja castigated Kenyans who call the "big people" for people
Dr. Karanja said that this was an abhorrent behavior that is traumatizing some sections of the community, dealing a deadly blow to children and dependants of those affected both in the motherland and in the US.
“Nowadays, there is no unity among Kenyans like there used to be long time ago. Some people are reporting their colleagues to those big people,” lamented the pastor. “Kenyans have become bad. You live in someone’s house for one month and they kick you out and call the big people for you,” he added.
Dr. Karanja said that Kenyans in America need to be compassionate to one another and realize that it was God who paved the way for all of them to get to America, and disagreements shouldn’t tempt them to get their friends ejected from the US.
Speaking in parables, Dr. Karanja indicated that Kenyans should leave the government to do its work as it sees fit. Let us also not make other people’s situations worse than they are.
From coast to coast, and from almost every city where Kenyans are, harrowing stories have emerged of minor disagreements leading to a visit by the ‘big people’ when one of the parties looses control and lunges for the phone to make a call to immigration on their friends.
The condition has manifested itself in all sections of the community, including boyfriend- girl friend situation, husband- wife, friend to friend and friend to foe, reaching all the way even to the churches in fights for power and pulpit control.
Dr. Karanja’s sentiments were echoed by the guest preacher for the day, Rev. Samuel Kimohu of Saint Stephens’s church, and several other people interviewed by Ajabu Africa.com.
“There is nothing that the devil fears than united Christians,” said Rev. Kimohu.
This is a very bad thing for an African to do to another African,” said a man from Ghana on condition of anonymity.
A combined choir from IFOM church and Tumaini community church entertain guests
“One time, my friend called the immigration people on me. Little did he know that God will then come and intercede for me. Now I am all set,” added the man Ghanaian.
“There are many people in the valley of disappointment today. Some are in sickness; some have no papers, no wives etc. Even pastors fall into the valley of disappointment. It is therefore crucial for Kenyans to embrace the power of unity rather than being divided,” said Rev. Kimohu.
The man of God said that no one should loose hope when they find themselves in the dark valley because God is beyond that valley. He has hope where there is no hope. God will always open a door for you.
He asked Kenyans to listen more to their leaders and those people in the know how so as to avoid falling into deep pits.
Also speaking at the event, the treasurer of the Kenya pastors’ fellowship Inc, Rev. Ekira Mureithi of Saint Johns church in Worcester, decried the growing trend where some Christians drop empty envelops into the offerings basket, hoping that others will think that they are giving.
Rev. Mureithi said that is better not to give anything than pretend to be giving as this was tantamount to mocking God.
Rev. Ekira Mureithi:Castigated Kenyans who drop empty envelops into donation baskets
Last year, three quarters of the envelopes returned here were empty,” she revealed. She added that the book of Malachi 2: 7-12 says that you are cursed and will remain cursed if you rob God.
She said God will not curse you if you don’t have, but you are mocking God if you are dropping an empty envelop.
Usually, it takes a lot of money for churches put together any community event . During this year's event, the two churches that united purchased a whole cow to feed the Kenyans,including an assortment of other foods. They also spent more money for communications and logistics.
Speaking during the same event, the chairman of Kenyan pastors fellowship, Bishop David Karaya, thanked pastors who are standing strong on behalf of the believers. He said that the church has continued to expand and that the pastor’s organization will continue to work against the problems that Kenyans are facing in this country.
The chairman of the Kenya Christians Welfare Association, Stephen Njuguna said that the association is ready to continue to look for ways in which to assist Kenyans to grow in order to be good citizens of this country.
The event that saw Kenyans enjoy great portions of traditional Kenyan dishes also saw several performances from various gospel artists led by a combined choir from the Tumaini church and the IFOM church.
Lucy Muthumbi, aka Wasaimo was among the old time artist performing, while three new upcoming artists gave worshippers a taste of their soon to be released album.
The artists, all from Lowell, included Peris Mbaria, a mother of three from Lowell who performed a track from her upcoming Kikuyu CD, and George Caroline Gitau, a couple who did a song from their soon to be released CD, while Elizabeth Mbugua, a grandmother of five in her 50’s who brought the Kenyans to their feet with her sterling moves and sweet melody in praise of Jesus.
The event was presided over by Rev. Joseph Kimatu of Tumaini Community church and Rev. John Wesonga of the IFOM church.
Rev. Jeremiah Githerre of Grace Community church in Lowell was the master of ceremonies assisted by Robert Odanga of IFOM church with the sound system provided by Ezy Entertainment Inc, a Kenyan entertainment company based in Springfield..
