Celebrated gospel minister Mercy Masika has shared a deeply personal memory of the late Jubilee Christian Church (JCC) founder Bishop Allan Kiuna.
The bishop passed away on 9 July 2024. The singer took to Facebook to reflect on their first encounter two decades ago.
Masika, who is one of Kenya’s most prominent worship leaders, first visited JCC as a guest minister in 2004. She recalled how a moment of technical failure revealed the true heart of the man she would later call her mentor.
A Technical Failure at JCC
During her very first performance at JCC, the atmosphere was interrupted by sound issues. As Masika sang, the church’s sound system began to fail.
She noted that the audio quality became quite poor during her ministry. It was this unexpected imperfection that triggered a powerful reaction from the Bishop.
“In 2004, I went to JCC as a guest minister for the very first time. As I sang, the sound system began to fail, and the audio was quite bad.”
The Bishop’s Tears
When Bishop Kiuna returned to the stage, he did not simply ask for the equipment to be fixed. Masika was stunned to see him visibly moved.
The Bishop was not crying out of frustration. He was expressing a deep reverence for the service. He turned to his technical staff to express his heartbreak.
“When Bishop Kiuna came back on stage, he didn’t just correct the situation—he literally cried tears, weeping openly. He looked at the sound team and said, “I want our sound team to give the best to God.”
According to Masika, this display of emotion changed her perspective entirely. Seeing his tears for the “house of God,” she whispered to herself, “What a man.” She realised that the Bishop never took the work of God casually.
Years of Mentorship
This first meeting in 2004 led to many years of spiritual guidance. Masika sat under Bishop Kiuna’s leadership and credited his sermons with having a deep impact on her life.
She described him as having a rare shepherd’s heart. She noted that he had a unique ability to find people exactly where they were in their lives.
“He was incredibly hardworking, a true Man of God who lived by faith, hope, and love.”
A Lasting InfluenceBishop Kiuna’s death follows a long and courageous battle with cancer. His legacy remains central to the history of JCC, a church he built into a major ministry over the years.
For Mercy Masika, his life was defined by a commitment to quality in worship. She believes his “legacy of excellence” will continue to live on in the hearts of those he reached.
