Pastor Ken Nyaga, left, and Robert Odanga, with basket, together with some dancing Kenyans as they celebrate the donations brought by well wishers for the treatment of pastor Jacton McBeru who was mugged in the streets of Nairobi Kenya , leading to a loss of voice.Pic by Harrison Maina/Ajabu
By Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. , MARCH 4_“McBeru aongee”(Swahili for “Let McBeru talk”), went the slogan coined by believers and well wishers from the Kenyan community in Springfield and Worcester, Massachusetts, who came together on Sunday and raised $20,000 for Pastor Jacton McBeru’s much needed medical expenses.
The Kenyan pastor needs financial support to undergo surgery here in Boston to regain his voice after he was mugged in the streets on Nairobi about five years ago and loosing his voice in the process from a damaged voice box.
Pastor Mcberu has since been living with his injuries after doctors in Kenya gave up on his treatment. It was after he was carefully re-examined by experts in Boston that some new hope of him regaining his voice emerged.
Joined by other pastors from around New England, friends and well wishers touched by the powerful show of unity kept opening their wallets every time a guest of honor stepped forward to lead in the donation, frequently repeating the slogan “Pastor aongee”.
The event at the International Faith Outreach ministries in Springfield was attended by dozens of Kenyans ready to support one of their men of God.
Pastor Jacton McBeru, foreground, watches in disbelief as Kenyans fork out big money for treatment of his lost voice
Explosive traditional Luhya and Kikuyu worship songs rented the air occasionally upon each round of great fundraising, firing up guests into a higher level of excitement, persuading many wallets to open up, and pens hitting the checkbooks.
The International Faith Outreach ministries is a predominantly Luhya worship church and the mix of traditional Luhya, Kikuyu, English and Swahili songs was a perfect prelude to the upcoming Luhya celebration day slated for next month at the Rapture Harvest Mission International in Wakefield, Mass.
Starting off the fund raising drive, Rev, John Wesonga, pastor of the IFOM church thanked the people who came to answer the call for a suffering colleague.
“It is a great honor for us to see all of you coming to help out in this ceremony,” said Rev. Wesonga, flaked by his wife, Alice Wesonga.
Rev. John Wesonga and his wife, Alice
Other pastors who brought big donations of between $200 and $1,000 from their church members who could not make it to Springfield, echoed Rev. Wesonga’s sentiments to answer a call for a suffering man of God.
“I came not because of this pastor, but because it is a calling form God,” said Rev. Christopher Kamau of Divine Gospel Ministries from Worcester. “I pray that McBeru gets a better voice than before after the operation,” added the generally humorous pastor, sending guests bursting in laughter, and McBeru himself struggling to say an almost inaudible “Amen” to that prayer.
“If a pastor can not talk, then what is going on in the world,” asked Pastor Mwaura of True Vine ministries from Worcester.” We have to do whatever is necessary to bring his voice back.”
Rev. Joseph Kimatu of the second Kenyan community church in Springfield brought a donation from Tumaini church members many of whom accompanied him to the event.
Rev. Kimatu, who has been helping Pastor Mcberu in seeking treatment, also delivered greetings support from the chairman of the Kenya Pastors Fellowship in New England, Bishop David Karaya who could not make it there.
Other pastors who came to support one of their own included Rev. Dr Karimi Mumbui form Ushindi Church, Rev. Samuel Kimohu , both from Lowell, Pastor Ben Njuru of Compassionate Fellowship church, Pastor Mwaura from True Vine ministries and Kariuki from the Liberty church, all in Worcester.
In addition to the pastors, five guests of honor brought personal donations of over $1,000 each. A Pharmacologist from Vermont, Dr. Milton Were, excited guests when he whipped out $1,000 check in style for the get the pastor’s voice back mission, setting off a donation contest with another guest, George Kahi from Springfield. The two guests ended up writing several more checks in the challenge.
The unusual fundraising stirred many nostalgic memories of life back in Kenya, courtesy of the master of Ceremonies, Robert Odanga.
Rev. Christopher Kamau demonstrates how Pastor McBeru was strangled in Nairobi Kenya leading to his loss of voice.
Mcberu was hit with the maneuver that is populary known
as Ngeta in the Kenyan street slang
Pastor Mwaura reacts to memories of a disturbing song that used to play at exactly 6am on the Kenyan National radio urging everyone to get up, grab a hoe and a machette , and go to work .
Odanga, who coined the Mcberu aongee slogan, punctuated the ceremony with occasional “commercial breaks” in which he led Kenyans into singing the old commercials on the Kenyan national radio station promoting products such as caffenol, Dawanol and many more, to the delight of guests.
Thanking the Kenyan community and the pastors who came for the fundraising, Rev. Wesonga of IFOM church said that it was a miracle for them to raise $15,000 for pastor McBeru.
“We did not expect such amount to be raised,” said Rev. Wesonga. “As Kenyans, we should continue with the heart to stand in unity to help one another because we are very far from our home country,” he added.
Rev. Wesonga expressed confidence that the remaining $5,000 to meet the target amount of 20,000 shall be realized once the people honored their pledges and others deposit into the dedicated bank account.
