Angela Kamuyu

Service to God leads pastor from Kenya to St. Louis

As a child growing up in Kenya, Pastor Angela Kamuyu had a passion for helping others, and eventually found the perfect platform: service to her church. 

“I longed to be in the holy ministry, as it would fulfill that desire for me,” Pastor Kamuyu said. “Reaching the unreached with the word and serving through the gospel.” 

In her native country, Pastor Kamuyu serves with the Presbyterian Church Of East Africa (PCEA), which primarily covers Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; it is the second largest denomination in Kenya. Pastor Kamuyu comes from the Iri-aini Presbytery, Kasuku Parish, though her first posting was in the Western Presbytery, Webuye Parish in Kenya. It is among the mainstream denominations in Kenya.

Church populations vary depending on location, ranging from a single congregation of a thousand plus to several hundred to a small congregation of tens. Though the size may vary, all churches share a single purpose: to fulfill the duties of the word and the sacrament.

“Besides spiritual welfare, our church works to help the less fortunate in the society and in the areas of health, education and the environment, and teaming with other institutions, like prisons,” Pastor Kamuyu says. 

Just as Pastor Kamuyu’s drive to help others led her to a life of service with the Presbyterian church, her basic need to move beyond her comfort zone brought her to another continent. Armed with a scholarship and a desire to develop a deeper understanding of the Old Testament through the context of a different culture, Pastor Kamuyu came to the Eden Seminary in St. Louis to study theology. 

When she completes her master’s degree in May, Pastor Kamuyu plans to return to Kenya with new ways to contribute not only to her own congregation, but to the larger church system. Among the challenges Pastor Kamuyu will face when she returns home is overcoming the belief that women do not belong in positions of power.

“Women representation in church is minimal,” she says. “They are not in the hierarchical structure—not in the top helm position. More should be done to encourage women participation in the church decision-making in general and inclusion in the top officials of the church.”

It is an ongoing process, Pastor Kamuyu says, to educate Christians that women can bring about social change, and change societal structures and institutions for the better.

“It is a bid to change the historical patriarchy and better appreciate women’s identity and to accept women of authority—which at times is not fully embraced, barely recognized or looked down upon,” Pastor Kamuyu explains. 

The struggle to assume leadership roles is one that is familiar to many women in the United States, as well, but Pastor Kamuyu offers hope for those working to make inroads in both countries.

“With the right exposure, support and encouragement, women can pursue their passions and excel in any fields that have previously been deemed not for women,” she says. “When women understand the potential that they possess, they can create, add or empower already existing systems, structures and leaders for the better— from the smallest unit of the society that is family, all the way up to our nations.”  

Pastor Kamuyu’s theological interests also include the role that Christians can play in environmental stewardship; in the future, she hopes to see churches develop partnerships with groups, companies and organizations to help advance environmental initiatives. On a broad scale, she would also like to see churches provide multi-generational outreach programs to help promote a greener, safer environment. Tools that St. Mark might consider include creation of a “green” check list; adoption of water and energy conservation programs; programs and church services about protecting our natural resources; use of more local, recycled or upcycled materials; and partnerships with local environmental organizations.

Pastor Kamuyu’s visit to the United States comes at a time of great political dialogue on the subject of immigration. As Christians, Pastor Kamuyu says we have the ability to lead that conversation.

“The church leaders have a great influence in the negotiation and dialogue table with the government,” she says. “Christians have the role to make sure that the policies and law of the land do not go beyond human compassion and rights.”

During her time in the United States, Pastor Kamuyu has made St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Ballwin her church home away from home. Pastor Kamuyu’s time with St. Mark has afforded her the opportunity to learn more about how networking, church organization and hospitality influence a congregation’s growth. In turn, she hopes to leave something behind for her St. Mark family: “A friendship bond that will connect two worlds and continue even in the future.”

Read the Gospels in 40 Days: John 6-7