|
BEAUTY TO UNVEIL Nairobi Women’s Day 2006 |
Imagesfrom the event |
The sisters of the Nairobi church closed out the year 2006 emphatically with a tremendous Women’s Day, held on Sunday 26 November at the basketball arena of the Nyayo National Stadium. The Theme was “Beauty To Unveil.”
“Beauty to unveil – I love the theme,” expressed one of the first-time visitors to the 2006 edition of the Nairobi Christian Church’s annual Women’s Day. Herself beautifully dressed, along with a friend, wanted to know more about beauty and to listen to teachings on the subject. Another visitor, Cecilia, was anticipating hearing something new that would change her life. “I want to get advice on life,” said Virginia, a young lady who also was at the event for the first time.
The stage was beautifully decorated in sky blue and navy blue draping contrasting against a white background. Two lovely white bouquets hung above the platform.
The choir opened proceedings, followed by prayers from four sisters, three in English and one in Kiswahili (the national language of Kenya).
To the backdrop of dramatic music, Josephine Omollo, the hostess, welcomed the women and unveiled a banner featuring the laughing face of a woman in touch with her beauty.
Carol Mukenya, co-lead Women’s Ministry Leader for Nairobi, then gave the keynote address. Defining beauty and assuring all the women that they are beautiful and unique, Carol explained from Scripture that crowned creation by making woman.
Carol reminded the gathering of the many great qualities of women – caring, feeling, hardworking, to mention a few – but also shared that different factors in life can stain that beauty, such as on-going or previous abuse and comparing ourselves to others. “We must break the chains that bind us so that we do not remain victims,” she declared.
“Lean to say ‘No’ to sin,” Carol added, “because sin squeezes the beauty out of us and leaves us degraded.”
Several speakers followed. Elizabeth Obong’o shared on behalf of the teens about persevering in face of the challenges of relating with parents, handling peer pressure, and dealing with worldliness, concluding that “prayer is the carbohydrate that gives energy, hope and a future.”
Rose Kisini spoke for the singles about the turbulence that singles commonly face and how for her she has found peace in God. “The heroes mentioned in Hebrews 11 never received what they were waiting for, and we I consider that and look at my blessings rather than focus on what I do not have, I am able to find peace.”
There was hardly a dry eye in the auditorium when Mary Ondatto, sharing about motherhood, introduced her best friend, who has helped her understand the grace of God – her daughter, Charlene. Mary shared that she was 18 years old and single when Charlene was born, and nine years later, she got baptized and began a journey with God and with her daughter.
“Pray a lot for your children and with them, and talk a lot with your children,” Mary advised mothers, explaining from Scripture how crucial it is to start training our children from a very early age and then allowing them to pass through the different phases of life and development.
Lucy Mwasi then passed on beauty tips to the women gathered.
“God intended for marriage to be about companionship, respect and going through life together,” said Victoria Auki in her speech, and shared several keys to keeping marriage this way – submissiveness, forgiveness, humility and purity.
These speeches were interspersed by various colourful, artistic presentations. The youth ministry did a traditional dance, Mercy Amatieku and Martha both sang rousing solos, and Garret Akinyi and Harriet Macharia sang a moving duet.
Many were moved, as evidenced by the sharing and fellowship as the women had snacks in the early evening. “I could relate to Rose,” said a visitor. “I am 28 and under pressure from my family to get married.”
A disciple, Joyce, said, “I was touched by what Mary said. I have been feeling alone in raising my teenagers.” Teen and campus disciples expressed joy that there was a teen given the platform to speak and said that it helped them to feel boosted and respected.
A disciple, Nellie, said, “Women are so expressive. I cried when Mary shared about Charlene,” adding, “I want women friends around me and want to build deep friendships to help bring out the beauty in me.”
Leah, a member of the church, enthused, “The message was like a cue that the Lord sent at the right time. How grateful I am that we have a God who truly knows what we need! It brought to light what God feels about me, that He purposely created me to crown his creation the same way icing is used to decorate a cake.
“The sharing from the sisters was particularly encouraging. I was personally impacted and challenged by Victoria’s message on how my beauty should be reflected in my marriage through submission, respect and purity. It was a wakeup call for me to work much more in the area of submission.”
Leah sums up the heart of this year’s theme and the fruit that the day promises to bear in the lives of women: “We are beautiful before God and should use our beauty to glorify Him.”
“Beauty to unveil – I love the theme,” expressed one of the first-time visitors to the 2006 edition of the Nairobi Christian Church’s annual Women’s Day. Herself beautifully dressed, along with a friend, wanted to know more about beauty and to listen to teachings on the subject. Another visitor, Cecilia, was anticipating hearing something new that would change her life. “I want to get advice on life,” said Virginia, a young lady who also was at the event for the first time.
The stage was beautifully decorated in sky blue and navy blue draping contrasting against a white background. Two lovely white bouquets hung above the platform.
The choir opened proceedings, followed by prayers from four sisters, three in English and one in Kiswahili (the national language of Kenya).
To the backdrop of dramatic music, Josephine Omollo, the hostess, welcomed the women and unveiled a banner featuring the laughing face of a woman in touch with her beauty.
Carol Mukenya, co-lead Women’s Ministry Leader for Nairobi, then gave the keynote address. Defining beauty and assuring all the women that they are beautiful and unique, Carol explained from Scripture that crowned creation by making woman.
Carol reminded the gathering of the many great qualities of women – caring, feeling, hardworking, to mention a few – but also shared that different factors in life can stain that beauty, such as on-going or previous abuse and comparing ourselves to others. “We must break the chains that bind us so that we do not remain victims,” she declared.
“Lean to say ‘No’ to sin,” Carol added, “because sin squeezes the beauty out of us and leaves us degraded.”
Several speakers followed. Elizabeth Obong’o shared on behalf of the teens about persevering in face of the challenges of relating with parents, handling peer pressure, and dealing with worldliness, concluding that “prayer is the carbohydrate that gives energy, hope and a future.”
Rose Kisini spoke for the singles about the turbulence that singles commonly face and how for her she has found peace in God. “The heroes mentioned in Hebrews 11 never received what they were waiting for, and we I consider that and look at my blessings rather than focus on what I do not have, I am able to find peace.”
There was hardly a dry eye in the auditorium when Mary Ondatto, sharing about motherhood, introduced her best friend, who has helped her understand the grace of God – her daughter, Charlene. Mary shared that she was 18 years old and single when Charlene was born, and nine years later, she got baptized and began a journey with God and with her daughter.
“Pray a lot for your children and with them, and talk a lot with your children,” Mary advised mothers, explaining from Scripture how crucial it is to start training our children from a very early age and then allowing them to pass through the different phases of life and development.
Lucy Mwasi then passed on beauty tips to the women gathered.
“God intended for marriage to be about companionship, respect and going through life together,” said Victoria Auki in her speech, and shared several keys to keeping marriage this way – submissiveness, forgiveness, humility and purity.
These speeches were interspersed by various colourful, artistic presentations. The youth ministry did a traditional dance, Mercy Amatieku and Martha both sang rousing solos, and Garret Akinyi and Harriet Macharia sang a moving duet.
Many were moved, as evidenced by the sharing and fellowship as the women had snacks in the early evening. “I could relate to Rose,” said a visitor. “I am 28 and under pressure from my family to get married.”
A disciple, Joyce, said, “I was touched by what Mary said. I have been feeling alone in raising my teenagers.” Teen and campus disciples expressed joy that there was a teen given the platform to speak and said that it helped them to feel boosted and respected.
A disciple, Nellie, said, “Women are so expressive. I cried when Mary shared about Charlene,” adding, “I want women friends around me and want to build deep friendships to help bring out the beauty in me.”
Leah, a member of the church, enthused, “The message was like a cue that the Lord sent at the right time. How grateful I am that we have a God who truly knows what we need! It brought to light what God feels about me, that He purposely created me to crown his creation the same way icing is used to decorate a cake.
“The sharing from the sisters was particularly encouraging. I was personally impacted and challenged by Victoria’s message on how my beauty should be reflected in my marriage through submission, respect and purity. It was a wakeup call for me to work much more in the area of submission.”
Leah sums up the heart of this year’s theme and the fruit that the day promises to bear in the lives of women: “We are beautiful before God and should use our beauty to glorify Him.”