Kenyan Celebrate Easter Fellowship
Pastors of various Kenyan Community churches ( front row) lead the faithful in a well attended Easter fellowship held at the Saint Stephens Chuch in Lowell last week. pic by H Maina/ Ajabu |
By Harrison Maina
LOWELL, Mass- It was indeed a treat for the more hundreds of Kenyans who turned out last weekend for an Easter Celebration in Lowell, Mass.
The event organized by Kenya Pastors Fellowship in America under the chairmanship of Bishop Karaya and hosted by Rev. Samuel Kimohu of St. Stephen’s Church attracted more than 600 Kenyans and their friends.
The enthusiastic congregation waved their hands from side to side as they belted out one gospel song after another in the three-hour long celebration.
The event featured prayers, music from various gospel artists and an array of Kenyan dishes. Gospel singers from various churches and the St. Stephen’s Church worship team entertained the congregation. Mary Njau, a visiting gospel artist from Missouri took the opportunity to launch her new CD titled Afrika.
Bishop Karaya applauded Kenyans for the huge turn out and encouraged the organizers to device a way of attracting more youths to future events.
“We need to find out what has to be done to bring the youth to this kind of an event,” he said.
The celebration attracted Kenyans from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and other neighboring states. It was held a week late to accommodate faithfuls from different Kenyan Churches in New England, a move which paid off big time.
Manny Moreira of Manny’s dairy, Lancaster, Mass., donated a bull and 25 chickens for the event. Moreira made good on his last year’s promise to donate the animal and the poultry if Senator Barack Obama won the presidency. He attended the event with his wife, Maria.
A Kenyan owned and operated coffee and tea company, Batian Peak, represented by Roseanne Kimotho, donated free coffee and tea tea for drinks.
Food and drinks donnors, Roseanne Kimotho, ( left) , Maria Moreira and Manny Moreira during the Easter fellowship |
“I promised to give a bull and some chicken last year if Obama wins,” Moreira said. “
“I have come here with my wife to honor that word, and I have actually increased the chicken offer from 15 to 25.”
Another farmer, Dennis Oliveira, also donated a goat for the occasion, but did not attend the celebration.
During the fellowship, Kenyans were asked to cultivate unity among them.
“Kenyan pastors are already making big steps to finish the divisions that exist in the body of Christ,” Bishop Karaya said.
The celebration took a different twist when Stephen Gathi, a Kenyan who is terminally ill was introduced to the congregation. Gathi has been given only three months to live by his doctors.
Shocked by Gathi’s plight, the teary crowd immediately busted into prayers and petitioned God to intervene. They also resolved to hold a fundraiser for Gathi this weekend to help him pay for his airfare to Kenya to be with his family.
Bishop Joshua Wambua of Rapture Harvest Mission International led the prayers. He encouraged Kenyans to serve diligently in their communities.
“It is very important that you must be part of us at all the times, when you are in good health and when you are sick,” he said.
Rev. Ekira Mureithi of St. John Anglican Church delivered the day’s sermon.
She reminded the congregation to keep hope alive at all times.
“In life, there is hope and despair, and it is a good thing to choose to live hopeful lives,” she said.
Photos Coming soon
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