Kenyans pack the Christ Covenant Church in Florrisant, Missouri, during a Christmas sermon last Sunday. Julia Njau/AjabuImages

Story and pics by Julia Njau, AjabuAfrica.com

FLORRISANT, Missouri,  SUNDAY, DECEMBER 06_ The growing and increasingly active Kenyan community in Missouri kicked off the Christmas season festivities with a special service held at the Christ Covenant Church in Florrisant, about 18 miles from St. Louis, and billed by many who attended as "simply fantastic".
More than 300 Kenyans of all ages attended , and got more than they expected.

Kamau Karongo, a gospel artist from Kenya who won “Best Male Artist” during the Talanta Music Awards last weekend in Atlanta Georgia, also attended. He blessed the audience with two songs from his only album “Ngoro Yakwa” , ( Kikuyu for “My heart”).

Saying that he had not intended be in Missouri, the budding musician said that he came only  because a friend insisted , a decision he was now proud of, in retrospect.

 "I did not know the pastor of the church, Pastor Paul Macharia, but after meeting him, I felt like he was a father to me," Karongo said.

Karongo, who said he was amazed by his journey from Kenya to Georgia, and then to Missouri, stressed that people should always speak to God in prayer. “God can hear us. Even when we can’t speak, he can hear us. God can hear us," insisted the young artist.

Kenyan gospel artist, and winner of the“Best Male Artist” during the Talanta Music Awards, Kamau Karongo performing in Missouri

Besides Kamau Karongo, a visiting missionary from Romania, Mort Wheatman,   amazed the congregation with a story about the famous Saint Nicholas.

Wheatman said that Saint Nicholas came was from a wealthy family in Turkey and lost both his parents at age 14.

 However, Nicholas continued to grow up and did not get disillusioned with life, but instead, became a very kind person who helped many people, including helping three sisters, who came from a poor family, get married.

The pastor asked Kenyans to be of good cheer and kind hearted especially at this Christmas time, just like Saint Nicholas.

 “People need to see in you that you are owned by God”.

 Drama ensued in the church when the visiting pastor, who in his red robes and white beard resembled a Santa, surprisingly pulled a green sack from nowhere. The sack crinkled loudly, causing children in the church to jump up with excitement with the realization that they are about to get Christmas goodies.

Wheatman then fished out candies from his bag and tossed them to the now unruly children swirling around him.

  After  several tosses  of the free candy  to the children, Wheatman chuckled and said, “This is how we should all respond to God’s grace”, causing loud laughter  in the church.

Mort Wheatman , visiting missionary from Romania distributes candy to Kenyan children at the Christ Covenant Church in Florrisant, MO

He then proceeded to walk down the aisle, freely distributing more candy to everyone.

However, Wheatman’s green sack ran dry as he approached the back of the church, dismaying the backbenchers, who were already salivating with expectation.

 When he returned to the alter, Pastor  Wheatman pacified the disappointed folks saying;  “As I told the people in the back who weren’t able to get candy because it ran out, God’s grace never runs out.”

Thanking Kenyans in Missouri for turning up in large numbers for the service, the host of the event, Pastor Paul Macharia asked Kenyans to keep up with their great spirit of giving and offering, which will lead to more blessings from God.

Many Kenyans who attended praised the event as very inspiring.

“That was a good sermon. It was good because it was short, simple, and you got the message. The singer was good too," said Agatha Kinuthia, a youth at the church.

“Outstanding," commented Mariam Mbugua, another young lady from the same church. "The singer was the best that I have ever heard. I like his talent and how he speaks Spanish. He is the best of the best," she added.

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