Welcome, Thomas Omollo.
Meet our new worship leader, Thomas Omollo. Thomas is a graduate of Nairobi University in BA (Literature, Political Science and Public Administration), and was a member of our SALT Campus ministry while at UON. He has been a member of Deliverance Church, Umoja, under Pastor J. B. Masinde, where he served as one of their worship leaders. He is newly wed (Dec) to Pauline.
A year ago, as we sought for worship leaders for the church relocations, we mentioned Thomas as an example of the sort of person we should be looking for. At that time however, he was fully engaged at DC, and could not join us. This year Thomas began sensing the Lord prompting him to move on, but was unclear as to where. A meeting with Pastor Albo later led him to Chapel, and lo-and-behold, etc, etc.
Thomas has a very clear sense of call into ministry, especially worship leading. He comes to us with very high recommendations from Pastor Janet (who was his pastor in SALT – he used to lead SALT worship), Pastor Chogo (who knew him while he was still at DC), and Pastor J. B. Masinde (who has released him to us with blessings).
Please uphold him in prayer as he begins giving leadership to the worship team, and as he learns our culture of worship here. I have every confidence that he will excel in this ministry. As you pray for him, also please pray for the worship ministry. Apart from leading us on Sundays, his task will be to :
- establish vibrant, definitive worship form among us that really helps us connect with God, and this with vocal and instrumental excellence that capture the heart of “African” worship, even to the point of helping us serve as a model to others.
- To write new worship music that will inform and complement the international Christian Church repertoire with music that has a unique African flavor.
- To identify and trains up key, gifted musicians as the next generation of worship leaders. We have often asked . . . where are the Ron Kenolys and Darlene Zschechs of Africa? Surely God must be raising them up? Could it be that the church has not recognized or honored their gifts? We’re asking Thomas to ‘wake us up’ and develop a culture of worship here that will nurture young, gifted worship leaders.
- To help us bridge music (and the powerful appeal it has in the youth generation) with evangelism. The evangelists of this generation are our musicians. Their public appeal and reach is phenomenal, and the church must harness the gift of music.
And, as you can well guess, this is just the beginning! Thomas is young yet and has a steep growth curve ahead of him, but that has always been one of the core values of the Chapel : to take young leaders with great potential, give them opportunity, and create a niche for them where they can grow and excel.
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