Page 54 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 1

ISSUE ONE | JULY/AUG
and it was all just too much. Then Allan looked her purpose of the Temple to self-promotion.”
right in the eye and said these words that were to Rebekah adds that she has “had the gift of watching
become a major turning point for her: and learning just by watching” the gospel music
“we are just going to make today good. scene in Kenya and “I’ve seen some people rise and
we are going to love today. and be creative fall very fast. I’ve seen some people rise and last but
today. and forgive today. and laugh today. and not go the distance in the long run. So for me, I think
make wise choices today. we are just going to that was a gift in the beginning - just seeing what’s
focus on today. working and what’s not working. And to me the
and when tomorrow becomes today, we will do pattern I’ve seen is that the moment someone gets
too big…they ought to stay “small’. And that’s me in
it again. my church - it keeps me “small”. It keeps me normal
because when we make today good – just today - regular. I am like everybody else. And for me it’s
– then those good days will turn into good weeks. not even about guarding the spotlight - it’s guarding
and good weeks will become good months. and the call of God and not being swayed by the crowd
good months will become good years. because the crowd doesn’t necessarily mean that
All good years are really just a bunch of good you’re with Christ. You have to guard what is of God.”
days.” Rebekah shares how heartbroken she was by the
She says that they have seen God come through for recent stories that have come out in Kenya’s gospel
them in the context of these words and that the only music scene, “I think our gospel scene this year has
place it has not worked has only been where they taken such hard blows… and one my mom always
haven’t applied it. used to tell us when we were kids, your sin will find
you out. There is a grace that comes with confession
Gospel Music that does not come with being busted. When you’re
Concerning the gospel music scene, this is some of busted, you never really can tell if the person is
what she had to say: genuinely sorry that they did it or if they are sorry
“When I was waiting to launch my album (it’s been because they got caught.” She continues, “I just feel
ten years and I still haven’t launched it), I felt such the weight - I cried when I read those stories. You
a conviction that there is nothing in the music or in always think Satan is letting you get away with it - He
the message that was wrong, but it is not going to never does. He is a long term investor and he may be
be believable because of the messenger and that for planting something now that he knows he won’t even
me is based on Psalm 40:3 which says ‘He’s put a reap for twenty years. He’s just being very strategic in
new song in my mouth, a hymn of thanksgiving to when and how this is going to come to the light.’ So
my God, many shall see and fear and put their hope that just keeps me in the fear of God.
in the Lord.’ Every translation uses the word ‘see’. It
says He’s given me a song and people will SEE it - Naked and not ashamed
you would think that the word ‘hear’ would be used Rebekah shared with us the hardest decision of faith
instead but scripture says that they will ‘see’ the song she ever had to make, which for us is a powerful
and that for me is the conviction, that people will put message to anyone in any walk of life, and we want
their trust in the Lord when they ‘see’ our songs, when to leave it as a parting thought: “To repent and be
they can actually observe them. Because a song exposed - That’s the hardest decision I have ever
that can be heard and not seen creates questions, had to make - choosing humility. To me, humility is ‘I
creates doubt, creates argument, creates division, was wrong and I’ve done something wrong’. Having
creates a lack of believability.” to expose it to my husband and to my team, to my
She says that she really dislikes the term “gospel parents … To accept and allow that exposure has
industry”, adding that, “When it becomes an industry, always been the hardest part of my faith. Because,
I just see Jesus flipping tables over and just being I want to look good and I want to look like I’ve got it
like you have turned my house of prayer into a den all together.
of… you know what that scripture says … it says Allan and I have been very intentional to create a
you have turned my house of prayer into a house of world in the social media space that’s honest and
merchandise. The Greek word merchandise, if you not presenting a ‘false reality’ … for me, the hardest is
look it up, means self-promotion. ‘You’ve turned my exposure and it’s the hardest decision I have to make
house into a place that you promote yourself’ ” She and keep having to make.”
interprets that as “things like praise and worship …
our skills are required in the temple of worship for (click here to listen to “Kutembea Nawe” by Rebekah
Dawn Gituthu)©
people to be able to engage, to come and lock in.
But if you use it to promote yourself, man … Jesus
is coming! He’s braiding a whip and coming after
you. That makes Him angry when you change the
54 HEALING - RESTORING - REBIRTHING - AFRICA