$34,400 donated for the ANTOR church building project

Guests at the ANTOR church in Rockland , MA during a fund raising ceremony lat Sunday in aid of a church buiding buying project. H.Maina/Ajabu Media

The highly successful event took place at current church location on 12 church streets in Rockland, was led by Rev. Joseph Nyamoki, who is serving as the current pastor   on behalf of the regular pastor, Rev. Philip Kihato who has been away in Atlanta on military duty as an army Chaplain.

  However, Rev. Kihato flew in for the event and brought donations from friends out of state.

The event saw $15,000 bought forward by the fund raising committee  comprised of about of about 10  dedicated members and friends of the ANTOR church, with the  rest coming from the actual fund raising efforts that included a highly demanded  laptop computer and sports bicycle as raffle items.

The laptop and bicycle lured many guests at the event to purchase multiples of the $2.00 tickets in the hopes of landing the winning ticket during the random draw with one visitor from Philadelphia, Deborah Chege, purchasing $60.00 worth of tickets and eventually drawing the winning ticket.

 “Yeah. I invested a lot so I deserve to win”, said Chege as she rejected teasing calls from other guests to let the laptop go back into the drawing again.

Rev. Dr. Joseph Kimatu, pastor of the Tumaini community church in Springfield surprised everyone including himself when he walked in a few minutes before the   drawing of the winning tickets  and ordered over a dozen tickets  only for him to win a   next coveted item - a mountain  bicycle.

“This is great”, said the lucky pastor he jumped onto the bike for a mock test- ride.

An excited raffle winner collects her spoils

Speaking  during a morning church service  prior to the fund raising, the pastor of the church, Rev. Kihato told  guests that time had  come for the ANTOR church to purchase a church building for worship despite discouragement from many  doubtful quarters.

Urging guests to help the church come up with a good down payment, Rev. Kihato  said that he together with the church leaders, had carefully evaluated their ability to take on a mortgage at this time even when  the economy is not as good as it should be.

 “I have some knowledge in accounts and I have carefully assessed our ability to pay even when some people doubt us”, said Rev. Kihato.
 
According to Rev. Kihato, the church has identified a 2,400 square feet church with a 50 car parking lot at a modest price of $250,000.

 “We hope to  raise enough funds for a $50,000 down payment,  so that we can  comfortably pay about $1,400 a month as a mortgage payment for  our own church which we can have a 24/7 access to”, said Rev. Kihato while speaking to Ajabu Africa.

 Rev. Kihato  said that the close to $35,000 raised on Sunday was a great achievement  and indicated their $50,000 target was within achievable range since many guests  were unable to make  it to the event due to conflicting schedules.

Pastor John Ndungu from Kenya

 Rev. Kihato added that  guests have  however confirmed the will be sending their donations with one guest, Rev. Kimatu promising to  conduct a mini- fund raiser at the  ANTOR church on July 24 to make up for his lack of enough funds  on Sunday  as a result of  conflicting funds drive events at his own church in Springfield.

During  the same service, Pastor John Ndungu   from of Integrity Faith Ministries from Nakuru, Kenya who is on a  preaching mission  in the USA,  told guests that Worshiping God is the  key to breakthrough  in all problems I life as well as the key to open heavens for eternal life.

 He urged them to realize their individual callings which should start by worshipping Him in spirit and in truth so they can have the power to go out there and make an impact for the Kingdom of God.

 “God is not looking for church elders, deacons, preachers or ushers in church”, said the Bishop.
“He is looking for a preacher, a deacon, who is a worshipper, and a giver since it is hard to worship without giving”, added the man of God.

He urged them not to allow anyone to take them away from the Christian life style they have found to their old lifestyles.“Purpose to move on with destiny”, he continued.

The event was attended by various other pastors including Rev. Samuel Kimohu of Saint Stephens’s church in Lowell, pastor Daniel Lugumya , a Ugandan pastor from Woburn, MA, Rev. Jeremiah Githere of the Grace International Church in Lowell, Rev. James Mwangi from Brockton and Rev. Peter Kiama from Worcester.

Rev. Kihato digs deeper into his pocket for more cash during the highly sucessful fund raising event

Among the gospel artists who performed to entertain worshippers included a mother and daughter duo where   Malaika Ngosso  from Newark Delaware and her 8 year old daughter Amani Ngosso staged amazing performances. Others were Joyce Mungai , Jayne Tinega from Lowell Esther Muhoni, who is visiting from Kenya.
 
Rev. Nyamoki thanked all the guests who came to lend a hand in the fund raising effort.
The church hopes to purchase the identified building less than half from of their current location in Rockland to in the very near future to serve the all members of the surrounding community.

They are still taking donations from friends and well wishers who were unbilled to make it to the funds drive or those who had not heard about it before.

 “We are still taking donations in order to meet our target. Please contact us if you would like to assist”, urged Rev. Kihato.

View more pics in the slide show below. Enlarge for a better view!

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