PHOTO:

Sammy Nkayamba, left, and Ibochwa Mlongecha of the east African community Yesu Yuaja band based at the International Gospel Church in Chelsea lead in a performance at the annual Reach the Beach week-long event that started Monday and concludes this Saturday from 12 noon to 7pm. AJABU AFRICA MEDIA PI

By:

Harrison Maina

Posted:

Aug,25-2015 11:37:21

REVERE, Mass.,--The annual "Reach the Beach" christian outreach at the Revere Beach near Boston got a taste of Africa when the Yesu Yuaja Band from International Gospel Church in Chelsea entertained revelers with hit after hit of east African community Swahili gospel music.

The week-long event that brings together different churches and gospel performers from around the area for music and drama performances started this Monday, and continues daily from 3pm to 9pm.

A grand finale slated for this Saturday near the Reinstein Band Stand, right on the Revere Beach Boulevard .

Several top ranking gospel musicians are scheduled to perform, among them the popular Bobby Bishop, a Christian rap performer from Lynn, Tom Conlon, a soft Rock musician, Courteny Reed, a Folk music performer, the Middle River Gospel band that specializes on Country and Western music as well as the Jo Petty Band, a Christian hard rock music band.

However, last night, beach goers enjoyed African Christian music by the Yuaja band led by Rev. Jared Mlongecha from 7pm to 9pm. Enticed by the strong African beats and drums,several local visitors joined in the dancing.

Pastor Joel Senny from Tanzania led in a brief word of God while Rev. Jared Mlongecha thanked the Reach the Beach organizers for inviting his church to perform and share in spreading the word of God for the second year in a row.

"This is great. This is what we are looking for when we started the Reach the Beach program. The city of Revere has over 47 different languages by people from all over the world. Jesus commanded that we go out and spread the good News of salvation to all people of the world in as many languages as we can, so this is a good thing to see it happening right here on the beach," said Joe De Santis, Director of the Reach the Beach program.

Joe De Santis, director of the Reach the Beach program that brings different churches for a week-long evangelism at the Revere Beach. AJABU AFRICA MEDIA PIC/H.MAINA

De Santis said that the annual program was started by the First Congregational Church located at 230 Beach Street in Revere 8 years ago as a way of reach out to the "lost in the world" frequenting the popular beach over the summer.

"We engage many people in evangelism, outreach, music, drama, art, children's activities, face painting, stories, games, puppets and general sharing of the Gospel at America's oldest public beach. This is like a church without walls," he told Ajabu Africa News.

He added that he was happy that attendance to the free entry event has been getting larger year after year. He invited anyone looking to have a nice time at the beach to pass by the big stand from 3pm to 9pm and enjoy some of the activities available, including free evangelism materials from over 32 different languages.

He also urged church groups or gospel artistes who would like to be included as performers during next year's program to contact with organizers at:781-284-4158.

For more information,visit:https://reachthebeachrevere.org

Source:

Ajabu Africa News