Stop Tearing down One Another- Rev. Wachira
Kenyan Pastors who led hundrends of Kenyans in New England in Jamhuri Day celebrations at the Divine Gospel Ministries in Worcester, Mass. . |
By Harrison Maina, AjabuAfrica.com
WORCESTER, Mass. , DECEMBER 19_Kenyans in America have been asked to be tolerant, to shun the habit of tearing down one another and to support their pastors, leaders, institutions and individuals in need.
This noble call was made by Rev. John Wachira of Christ is the Answer Church in North Chelmsford, Mass. during the 2009 Jamhuri (Kenyan Independence) day celebrations held at the Divine Gospel Ministries church in Worcester last Sunday.
In a great show of patriotism, more than 400 Kenyans showed up for the annual event that kicked off at 3pm.
On the same day, an estimated 200 more Kenyans had a separate Jamhuri day celebration at the Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Lowell.
Also during the same eventful Sunday, another 100 or so people Kenyans met at the Episcopal Church in Medford for a Christmas cantata organized by the Kenya Christians abroad KCFA, Boston Chapter.
Several more dozens met at the ANTOR church in Abington for a revival meeting led by the visiting pastor Joseph Njuguna of Man of God ministries based in the UK, marking a very busy weekend for Kenyans in Massachusetts.
The event at the Divine Gospel ministries in Worcester was organized by the Kenya Pastors Fellowship (KPFA), and attracted Kenyans from various cities in New England, with some traveling from as far as New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut.
Over 21 pastors from various Kenyan churches attended, while others sent messages of apologies for not being able to make it due to unavoidable circumstances.
Kenyans sing the National Anthem during the 2009 Jamhuri day celebrations |
Seats in the church were filled up by 4.30 pm, making those arriving later to stand in the aisles to catch a glimpse of the proceedings.
The high attendance by the Kenyans also exhausted the food prepared by members of the Divine Gospel before 4pm, and hungry Kenyans could be seen roaming near the kitchen in vain.
“I salute the Kenyans in New England for this kind of unity,” said Rev. Joseph Kimatu in opening remarks to kick off the festivities.
“I lived in Atlanta, Georgia for about 10 years and I have never seen this kind of gathering and unity,” added the new pastor of Tumaini Church in Springfield, Mass.
Many Kenyans, who attended expressed gratitude that the Kenyan Pastors had taken the initiative to bring Kenyans together in a patriotic spirit so they can mingle, socialize and celebrate their political independence from the British colonizers.
“This is a great event. I am glad I came all the way,” said Newton Kinnity, who drove over 100 miles from New Haven, Connecticut with his wife for the event. Kinnity is a well known former secretary general of the Kenya Civil Service now living in the US.
“It is a great national pride when Kenyans meet and celebrate national holidays,” Kinnity told AjabuAfrica.com.
Some Kenyans interviewed by ajabuafrica.com expressed hope that some churches that still did not show up or even send representatives can find a way of attending future national events with other churches.
“We can find ways to celebrate these holidays together as one large Kenyan community,” said Mercy Anampiu of Lowell in a telephone interview.
A section members of the KIC Ministries from Divine Gospel church entertaining Kenyans during last weeks Jamhuri Day celebrations |
Inviting Kenyans to have a good time at their church, the host of the event, Rev. Christopher Kamau, said that he was overjoyed to see Kenyans, young and old come to Worcester to celebrate an important day in their lives.
In a short speech, Rev. Samuel Kimohu of Saint Stephens’s church in Lowell asked Kenyans to unite in everything for the benefit of the entire community.
He said that the ideological differences between different churches should not hinder the unity between Kenyans especially during times of celebrations and development.
Referring to the book of Psalms 133 during the keynote sermon, Rev. John Wachira of Christ is the Answer Church in North Chelmsford, echoed the message of unity espoused by various speakers.
Rev. Wachira implored Kenyans to support their pastors in the difficult task of serving the spiritual needs of the community.
Wachira said that many Kenyans in America were talking ill of each other and did not want to support those who are trying to do extra ordinary things to improve their lives.
“We need to have more unity and support one another,” said Rev. Wachira.
Various Kenyan artists entertained the guests, led by the youthful KIC ministries’ choir of Divine Gospel Ministries.
Other artists who performed included Philip Kimani of the Abba fame and Moses Ndichu, both currently on a US gospel tour that will take them through different states.
During the Jamhuri day event, Kenyan members of Advocates Inc, a large human services company in the Worcester area, demonstrated a project that the company is undertaking to develop a special school in Thika District in Kenya. The project will involve upgrading of the Kiriko special unit, a school that caters for children with developmental disabilities in rural Kenya.
“We are very excited to be involved with this project under Advocates Inc,” said James Irungu, a Kenyan working at the company, and one of the coordinators for the project. He asked Kenyans to be ready to help when called upon especially in the area of funds.
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