One Pastor’s Story: Inspiring Others through His Actions Serving His Community

One Pastor’s Story: Inspiring Others through His Actions Serving His Community

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Have you ever faced a serious dilemma? You want to do something, but you aren’t sure what is best to do, especially if your decision affects someone you care about. This was my situation. You see, my mother is a devoted Christian. And, let’s just say, my beliefs have changed over the years.

My relationship with religion and going to church has been mostly nonexistent the past few years. But two experiences have changed me. First, the loss of a dear person l treasured and still do and second, my unpleasant encounters with several pastors.

In the middle of 2020, I travelled to Kenya for an urgent family matter. While there, my mother kept on insisting that we visit the local pastor at his home, but I hesitated and kept postponing the idea.

Though I wanted to please my mother, l wasn’t up for another disappointing encounter with one more pastor. I believe pastors are meant to serve others, but unfortunately, I’ve known some who have gone astray and put themselves first and expected the “ordinary” members to be of service to them.

I have found that many people have gotten on the religion bandwagon for their own selfish gain rather than to serve others. Regrettably, religion for some has become a business and a fast way to get rich. I refuse to be enslaved by what some call “religious practices.”

However, my views on religion suddenly changed when I met a man called Pastor Gitahi.  It’s nice to know that some good pastors still exist.

You see, l have always had a skill for reading people. My first interaction with someone tells me a lot about the person. Sometimes I am wrong but usually my conclusions about a person are accurate. Society would call me an introvert. I consider my introvert tendencies to be actually like superpowers allowing me to observe and make decisions based on what l see. Sometimes I can size up someone just by the way they interact with others.

At my mother’s insistence, I finally agreed to meet with Pastor Gitahi. We went to his house to visit him and met his wife. A few minutes later, the pastor arrived and offered my mother and me a warm, humble greeting. This was a rather unexpected encounter for me. He then went to this wife and did the same, however hers was more intimate. He placed one hand around her shoulder and the other hand he placed on hers. It was as if he hadn’t seen her for days. But that wasn’t the case, as he had left the house to go for a service only a few hours earlier.

He was just as excited to see us as he was seeing his wife, if not more so. This was an unusual experience for me, especially coming from an older couple in a Kenya setting.

His interaction with his wife convinced me that this couple was different. To them, I suppose, their behavior was normal. But to me in those ten seconds, l learned a powerful lesson l could apply in my own relationships.

After introductions and “ushahidi wa bwana,” we made small talk and learned more about each other. Then, my mum asked for water. And this was another moment of service as Pastor Gitahi offered to get my mother a cup of water from the tank outside. For some, this might not be a big deal, but in my culture, it’s rare to see an older African man, surrounded by three women, offer to get up and be of service to the women. But l quickly offered to help and went to the kitchen to grab a cup to get water from the outside water tank.

After a while, time came for us to say goodbye and so we prayed. Pastor Gitahi then went to the back door where my mum had left her shoes and brought them to her; another moment of service. We took pictures as we were leaving and then he offered to open the gate so we could pull up our car and head our merry way home.

As he was holding the gate for us to drive through, two young kids walked by. And you should have seen how he waved and greeted those kids. It was as if he was greeting “wazee wa kanisa.” He was so humble and excited to see them as if they were “men of the church.”

As one would say in Swahili, ako Na Unyenyekevu mwengi (humbled).

His actions spoke louder than his preaching. And that did it for me. Pastor Gitahi changed my relationship with religion and pastors. He gave me hope that there are still some good pastors out there.

So I told my mum, hapo begu ya upendo a “love seed” has been planted. A long relationship has been established. Whenever l am in the country, l will always make a point to visit them. They are one powerful couple. I speak nothing but blessings to them.

Now it’s your turn my dear reader. Do you have a positive pastor story to share? If so, leave a comment below.

Here is a blog post worth reading, 20 Ways To Support Someone Who is Grieving: Kenya Version.