On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a rare activity among Kenyans and friends will be taking place in Stockholm. The Bagarmossen Church will organize the “Arise and Shine” Conference which will be the first of its kind within the Kenyan Church going community in Stockholm.
The population of Kenyans in Stockholm is very tiny and if one has to talk about the “Christian community”, it would be opportune to assert that many Kenyans are “Christians by word of mouth” and not by deeds. In fact, the population of Kenyan Christians is very small here and it is in this context that the “Arise and shine” Conference has some significance.
Will this Conference draw the attention of Kenyans in Stockholm about the need to move closer to Jesus Christ? Of course, in the United States and Britain where the Kenyan constituency is substantially large, a Conference of the “Arise and Shine” type might not attract a lot of attention. But, in Stockholm, the situation is slightly different. The Conference puts the Bagarmossen Church into sharp focus while it also helps in promoting the Church because pulling such a Conference is a statement that Kenyans behind the Bagarmossen church are serious in what they are doing.
Pastor Samson, Pastor Samuel, brother Muritu, Pastor Muraya, brother Caxtone, Sister Catherine, Sister Sheila, Sister Lissa and others around the Bagarmossen Church should be proud of having pulled Bishop Karanja of “The Wings of Love Ministry” to Stockholm and to spread love and forgiveness among Kenyans and friends in this city.
This Conference should offer a moment for Kenyans and friends in Stockholm to “Rise and Shine” after being low and gloomy following the post election violence. Let us hope that long after the Conference, it will be possible for those who will get the message to spread the good news among Kenyans, some of whom are deeply engaged in sin and other dirty activities abhorred by the Almighty.
The Conference should not just be limited to issues connected to people’s ability to “Arise and shine”. The Conference should also seize on the opportunity to pray for Kenyans in Stockholm to see the light and join the crusade to heaven. Kenyans in Stockholm need to stop hot gossip, betrayal of one another, spreading lies and rumours about people, moving with wives of other Kenyans, conmanship, prostitution, hatred, alcoholism among other unacceptable vices that are becoming routine within the community.
It is during Conferences of the “Arise and shine” type that the Kenyan community here is in a better position to move closer to the almighty and have a reality check. There is need for Kenyans in Stockholm to ask for forgiveness of sins and what better opportunity could have presented itself than the “Arise and shine” Conference?”.
This is not to launch a campaign for the Conference. The truth is that since the days of Bishop George Njuguna who passed away after returning to Kenya, many Kenyans have never been close to a Kenyan Bishop here in Stockholm and part of the reason why some Kenyans do not go to church is because they are tired of white Swedish Bishops they cannot relate to. Here we are, with a Kenyan Bishop travelling all the way to help us “Arise and Shine” so we cannot turn around and say that we were never told.
I hope that this Conference will be an eye opener and that it will go a long way to awaken Wakenya here about the need to revert to Jesus Christ as our personal savior. Nobody hates rising up happy in the morning and shining in the streets.
The difference with the Conference is that you are supposed to “arise and shine” internally and you will not be able to do so if you cannot attend the Conference, open your ears, focus your mind and listen to Bishop Karanja who will be delivering the message in typical Kenyan style.
The Bagarmossen Church has done its job and now, Kenyans need to reciprocate by taking a break and finding how they can arise and shine. At least, there is one good reason to skip Vasa for an evening after work because you never know. Another advantage is that you are likely to leave Vasa staggering but at the Conference, you might just begin to shine after a long time of darkness in your life.
Okoth Osewe
About the Author
Just read this – I am Bishop Njuguna’s daughter and these words touched me and made me feel good to know dad was appreciated: The truth is that since the days of Bishop George Njuguna who passed away after returning to Kenya, many Kenyans have never been close to a Kenyan Bishop here in Stockholm and part of the reason why some Kenyans do not go to church is because they are tired of white Swedish Bishops they cannot relate to.