In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed—though it is the smallest of seeds, when it grows, it becomes a tree where birds can nest. The story of St. Andrew's Sunday school mirrors this divine truth, beginning with a handful of dedicated teachers and blossoming into a ministry that nurtures over a thousand young souls.

The Seed is Planted (Mid-1960s)

Like a tiny mustard seed carefully placed in fertile soil, the Sunday school ministry began in the mid-1960s through the faithful hands of the late Charles Kariithi Muthuma and his wife the late Rahab Huro Kariithi. Their vision to nurture young faith would grow beyond their wildest dreams. A few years later, the first sprout emerged when Daniel Wagacha Gichura and Bidan Mbugua joined as a Sunday school teachers, serving devotedly over the years.

The early roots of this ministry were strengthened by dedicated teachers who laid the foundation; Njogu wa Kiiru, Robert Murira, Harrison Mburu, Hottensiah Kibui Igogo, Nelly Wanjiru Morris, wife to Rev. Dr. Macmillan Kiiru, Sammy Kinyanjui Mbugua, Wanjiru wa Mbugua, Minneh Njeri Thariki, Nyina wa Wambui wa Walter, Wainanina wa Warunge and many others.

These faithful servants gathered children in the main church building early morning before the Kikuyu service, planting seeds of faith in young hearts.

The Sapling Grows (1995)

By 1995, under the nurturing leadership of Samuel Githenya, the late lay reader David Mwangi (Uncle Dave), and Lay reader William Karomo, the ministry had grown to about 150 children—like a healthy sapling reaching toward the sun.

In the late 1990s, under Harriet Wanjiku Kahugu's leadership, the ministry branched out to include younger teachers bringing new vitality. They are Benson Nguyai, Catherine Karimi and Lucy Mukiria among others.

By the turn of the millennium, the Sunday school had nearly doubled to 270 children and like a mustard tree providing shelter, the ministry was becoming a spiritual haven for more young ones.

Growing Beyond Its Space

Just as a healthy tree needs room to spread its branches, the growing ministry required more space. The original church building could no longer contain the flourishing program. In a beautiful demonstration of faith, the original Sunday School teachers from the 1960s came together to build a Sunday school hall—creating new space for the soaring numbers.

Multiple Branches (2008-2010)

Like a mature tree developing distinct branches for different birds, the ministry began to specialize; in 2008, a separate teenage class was established in the church boardroom and in 2010, the Sunday school hall was partitioned to create dedicated spaces for small children in one section and pre-teens in another

In 2012, St. Andrew's made history by hosting the first teenage camp in the parish, with 180 teens attending. Like a tree bearing its first fruits, this initiative was so successful that:

• It was adopted by the entire Diocese
• The church has since hosted eight such camps
• Each camp has drawn more young people to the church

More teachers joined the ministry numbering about 28 today.

A Mighty Tree Today

During the construction of the Mega Sanctuary, like a tree temporarily transplanted, the children's ministry found temporary shelter at Ndenderu Primary School. But God's faithfulness prevailed— the church leadership prioritized the children's halls and a teens’ chapel as the first facilities to be completed and commissioned in the new sanctuary by the Sixth Mt. Kenya South, Bishop Charles M. Muturi on 19 February 2023.

Today, what began as a small seed planted by the Muthumas has grown into a mighty tree that provides spiritual shelter to around 1,000 children every Sunday. This remarkable growth echoes Jesus's words about the mustard seed, showing how God can take our smallest offerings and multiply them beyond measure.

May this ministry continue to grow, providing spiritual shelter and nurture to generations of children to come, just as Jesus promised that the tiny mustard seed would become a mighty tree where many find rest and refuge.

Previous Next