As Kenyans marked the Christmas season, District Superintendent Bishop Samwel Nyatera of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) called on citizens to embrace the true meaning of the holiday by practicing generosity, forgiveness, honesty, humility, patience, love, compassion, diligence, and integrity.
Speaking during a Christmas gathering in Kitale, he urged believers to reject envy, tribalism, segregation, selfishness, and division, stressing that the birth of Jesus Christ is both a celebration of joy and a call to transformation.
According to Bishop Nyatera, Christmas, while it is traditionally associated with festivities, gifts, and family gatherings, is also a moment to assess how individual actions reflect Christian virtues and impact the wider community. “Christmas is not only a time of celebration; it is a time to reflect on our behavior, to ask ourselves how we have extended Christ’s love to those around us, and to ensure that envy, selfishness, tribalism, and segregation do not take root in our hearts,” the Bishop said.
Bishop Nyatera emphasized selflessness, generosity, and compassion as essential qualities for personal and societal development. He argued that true progress, whether in families, communities, or the nation at large, cannot flourish where greed, envy, tribalism, or narrow self-interest dominate. Generosity, he said, is more than giving material gifts; it includes sharing time, knowledge, and opportunities.
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The Bishop also stressed the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation. Holding onto grudges, resentment, or past injustices, he noted, hinders both personal and societal progress. “Christmas is a season for healing and reconciliation. Forgiveness frees us and opens the way for communities to grow together in peace. Envy and tribalism, on the other hand, divide us and block the flow of blessings that could benefit everyone,” he said.
Reflecting on the past year, Bishop Nyatera acknowledged Kenya’s progress in education, healthcare, and community development but warned that selfishness and tribal divisions continue to hinder collective growth. He urged Kenyans to embrace virtues such as honesty, humility, patience, and compassion, which unite communities and build resilience.
The Bishop also emphasized the role of youth empowerment, urging parents and leaders to invest in the moral and intellectual formation of young people. He said sustainable development depends not only on material wealth but also on equipping the next generation with values and responsibility.
Beyond moral virtues, Bishop Nyatera reminded Kenyans of practical responsibility, particularly road safety during the festive season. He urged motorists to obey traffic rules and avoid reckless driving, stressing that protecting life is both a civic duty and a Christian responsibility.
In addition to moral virtues, Bishop Nyatera reminded Kenyans of the importance of practical responsibility, especially during the festive season when many travel to visit family and friends. He urged drivers and road users to exercise utmost caution and adhere to safety measures on all roads. According to the Bishop, accidents are preventable when motorists obey traffic rules, avoid reckless driving, and show care for the lives of fellow citizens. “While we celebrate, we must also protect life. Every journey matters, and no gift or celebration can replace a lost life,” he said, stressing that road safety is both a civic duty and a Christian responsibility to preserve life.
In his address, the Bishop encouraged all citizens to carry the lessons of Christmas into the New Year. He called on Kenyans to reject selfishness, envy, segregation, and tribalism, and to embrace forgiveness, honesty, humility, patience, diligence, love, compassion, generosity, responsibility, and ethical leadership. He stressed that ethical conduct, unity, and a willingness to serve others are crucial for building communities that are prosperous, just, and inclusive.
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Bishop Nyatera reminded the faithful that Christmas is not a one-time act of giving, but a lifestyle. True Christian living, he explained, requires ongoing practice of virtues that reflect the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. “The heart that is generous, forgiving, humble, patient, honest, compassionate, and careful in its actions — including safety on our roads — is the heart that builds strong families, resilient communities, and a peaceful nation,” he said..
Bishop Nyatera also emphasized the importance of love as the central Christian virtue that binds all others. Love, he explained, motivates generosity, forgiveness, honesty, patience, humility, diligence, compassion, and responsible living. When love guides personal and communal actions, it fosters a culture of unity, justice, and shared progress. “Love is the foundation on which every other virtue rests. Without love, generosity becomes duty, forgiveness becomes reluctant, and humility becomes empty,” he noted.
The Bishop concluded by urging families to teach children these values, communities to uphold them in public life, and leaders to model them in governance and service. He stressed that sustainable development, social harmony, and national progress are only achievable when Christian virtues guide individual and collective action.
As the New Year begins, Bishop Nyatera encouraged Kenyans to carry the lessons of Christmas forward, rejecting selfishness and tribalism while embracing forgiveness, honesty, humility, diligence, compassion, and ethical leadership. He concluded by urging citizens to recommit to Christian virtues, strengthen relationships, uplift the marginalized, and build a united and prosperous Kenya.
By Hillary Muhalya
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