The Growth of ACCEA from 1990-2002

Mulandi was born on 4th May 1948 in Ukambani as the 4th born child among nine siblings, Mulandi (2010). As a young person, he attended the African Inland Church and at the age of 17 years, he received Jesus Christ as his personal saviour. He later joined Thika High School where he became a vibrant evangelist who was involved in the Christian Union activities.

After completing high school, Mulandi settled in Thika town and together with others, they started preaching in the neighbouring secondary schools such as Thika High School, Chania High School and Equator High School. They became active members of Thika Interdenominational Fellowship which held rallies and weekend meetings. With time, their activities spread to the neighbouring districts of Murang‟a and Kiambu (Mulandi, 2010).

Between 1969 and 1971, he was a student at Kagumo Teachers‟ College in Nyeri District, Mulandi (2010). During this time, he actively participated in the Christian Union activities as well as preaching in the neighbouring churches. It was after interacting with many people during these evangelistic activities that he heard of Archbishop Kiriethe of ACCEA Nanyuki. After several meetings, the two became friends. Archbishop Kiriethe allowed the young evangelist Mulandi and others who were endowed with the preaching gifts to give sermons in his church.

In 1972, Mulandi and other young evangelists started attending camps organized by the Trinity Fellowship (TF) and the Kenya Student‟s Christian Fellowship (KSCF), Mulandi (2010). TF was a Christian non-denominational fellowship composed of believers who had zeal of preaching the Gospel. The camps were mainly held in schools such Kiambu High Shool and Thika High School among others. Through the courtesy of these two organizations, they visited schools where they preached the gospel. The same group also went to churches, requested for opportunities to sing, gave testimonies and prayed for people to receive salvation. Once a person got born again, they would then pray for them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit manifested through speaking in tongues (glossolalia). They often cited Peter and Paul among other apostles who went preaching to different places. The account of Peter`s preaching on the day of Pentecost where three thousand new converts were added to the Christian faith acted as a motivation to Mulandi and his companions. (Acts 2:42-47)

Their activities, however, led to their resentment by the members of the mainline churches. They earned condemnation from mainline churches such as Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), PCEA and Methodist Church of Kenya. These churches denied them opportunities to minister to their members. The young evangelists then designed another approach where they would sneak into the churches, seek permission to give testimonies, preach for a short time and then disappear. Mbogo (O.I. 26.08.2011) noted that it was as a result of this behaviour that, a Pentecostal evangelist called Watson Omulokoli

nicknamed them “gorillas for Christ”. He further noted that though initially this name may have been used lightly or with negative perception, they later adopted it to form the Gorillas for Christ movement in 1973. However, even though Mulandi joined the “Gorillas for Christ Ministry”, he never lost touch with Archbishop Kiriethe (Mulandi, 2011).

In 1975, Archbishop Kiriethe decided to consecrate Pastor Henry Mulandi as a reverend in a ceremony that was held at Muramati Secondary School in Nanyuki. Being consecrated as a reverend is the second level of an ordained church minister from the level of a pastor. Despite being consecrated as an ACCEA minister, Mulandi had the freedom to minister to the young Pentecostal Christians who were joining the Pentecostal movement from the mainline churches. He baptized them, gave Holy Communion and conducted weddings. Kiriethe also allowed Mulandi to serve as an ordained church minister in any part of the country where there was need. Mulandi‟s ordination gave him more zeal to serve the body of Christ (church). With his long-time companion, Bishop Duncan Mbogo and others, their activities intensified in Thika, Murang‟a, Kirinyaga, Embu, Machakos, Nyeri, Nanyuki, Nyandarua and Meru districts.

According to Wanjigi (2009), as preaching continued, they found it necessary to get official registration and recognition. They formed an organization called the “Regions Beyond Ministry” (RBM) under the first chairmanship of Rev. Mulandi in 1976. The RBM focused their preaching activities in high schools

and colleges where they held many Christian camps in Kangaru High school and Emmah Girls High School in Embu County, Mangu High School and Thika High School in Kiambu County, Mumbi Girls Secondary School and Kahuhia Girls High School in Murang'a County, Kagumo High School in Nyeri County, Nyandarua High School in Nyandarua County and Njoro High School in Nakuru County. These evangelistic activities attracted many young people who joined this ministry. The big number of followers necessitated the establishment of a church in Thika town.

Mulandi approached Archbishop Kiriethe and made a request to allow him open a branch of ACCEA in Thika town which he accepted. He and his team held their first service at Thika Technical School. From here, the church shifted to Thika Pastoral Youth Centre and later to a Catholic youth Centre near General Kago premises where they stayed for one year. The church then moved to Mundia Secondary School that later became Central High School. Due to numerical growth, in 1983 the church relocated to the Community Centre. Shortly after this, the church moved to a plot opposite Metal Box Thika Industrial Area. The church remained in this venue for a long time a factor that contributed to the increase of the congregation. Mulandi (2010) further noted that they held frequent crusades in Thika town coupled with lunch hour and evening meetings. These activities too contributed to the growth of the church, (Mulandi, 2010).

After some time, the church identified a plot in Makongeni Phase 8 in the outskirts of Thika town where they pitched a big tent under which the services were held. With time, this plot was officially handed over to the ACCEA by the Thika Municipal Council through Mr. Joseph Wamwangi who was then the town clerk (Mulandi, 2010).

Bishop David Kariuki (O.I 23.08.2015) pointed out that, this church had strong influence on the youth and several discipleship programs were organized to attract and retain them in the church. One such program was the “Thank God It‟s Friday” (TGIF), a Christian activity which was held at the end of every week (Friday) and brought the youthful believers together. After gathering, they would spend the Friday night singing, dancing and preaching for spiritual nourishment. This program kept the youth in the church and contributed to the church's numerical growth. By 1986, the CCI had established 57 branches in Kenya which were run by pastors appointed by the National Executive Council (NEC) to manage their operations. By the year 2011 when the research was conducted, CCI had more than 300 branches with some in the diaspora such as Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the USA.

4.1.4 Relocation of the ACCEA headquarters from Nanyuki to Thika