Submitted by: Janice Edson, Lay Leader, Republic Community Church
Now the God of hope fills you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
— Romans 15:13 (KJV).
Everyone who participated in any way in the African Festival of Hope on Saturday, August 27, 2022, at the Nashua United Methodist Church experienced an abundance of hope through the Power of the Holy Spirit! The African Festival of Hope was full of joy and peace as the room filled with Believers.
See an album of images from the Festival.
Our faith is a living faith. It lives in the lives of its people. The power of that faith was so evident as everyone shared in singing “I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me.” Jesus is the source of our Hope and Joy and Peace.
Hope and Joy continued all throughout the Festival in the sharing of African culture through the beautiful artifacts from The Congo, Uganda, Burundi, and Ghana, in the colorful African fabrics of the traditional clothing of the African community here in Iowa! The food was in abundance; tables full of African food for all participants to share in! Pastors from each country shared a special presentation about their beloved homeland. Pastor Daniel Niyonzima shared Burundi culture, Pastor Derrick Okine shared Ghana culture, Pastor Sarah Namukose shared Uganda culture and Pastor Sedar Shako shared Congo culture. There was dancing and singing as the God of all Hope was praised.
A special blessing on the Festival came from the presence and shared thoughts of Rev. Dr. Harlan and Debra Gillespie, Rev. Moody Colorado and Rev. Michael Lundula.
At the conclusion of the Festival all joined in the unison song “Africa Will Be Saved” followed by prayers of blessing for Africa and America.
All were invited to enjoy a piece of cake that had been decorated with the continents of Africa and America! It was a symbol of the theme for the day; to
Experience Africa from America.
There was great Hope, Love and Joy “in this very room”! Thank You to the vision of Pastor Sarah Namukose and the African Community here in Iowa, those who were up all night preparing the food, along with the members of the Nashua United Methodist Church and the Republic Community Church and all others who gave and shared and participated by their love and presence to make this day the Celebration of Hope that it was.
(The words “in this very room” come from the song “In This Very Room”)
