Street Stories - A Ringside Seat To Over 4 Decades Of Taking Jesus To The Streets Of The World

The church was packed with family members, friends and a large contingency of NYPD officers, there to pay their respects and to honor Officer Houston. There was hardly an empty seat in the house. Gospel music filled the air, and I realized this service was going to be a celebration of Uhuru Gonja’s life. He lived a life of service to others and a life of sacrifice until the very end. Until his final breath, Officer Houston selflessly gave his life helping others escape their own demise at the World Trade Center. Along with Uhuru’s eulogy, the Pastor of the church preached a fiery, cadenced message challenging those in attendance to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. When he gave an invitation for people to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, most of the police officers there stood, asking for prayer to make Jesus Lord. It was quite a moving site to see so many strong, rugged men and courageous women, tears streaming down their faces, surrendering their lives to Jesus. Not only had this service turned into a celebration of Officer Houston’s life, but it was also a celebration of so many who were making Jesus Lord. I realized time was slipping away and I had to get back to the church and grab my backpack and guitar and head back to JFK Airport, as I had a late afternoon flight back to Los Angeles. After the altar call for salvation, I assumed the service was coming to a close. I assumed wrong. An American flag that had been draped atop Uhuru’s casket, was ceremoniously folded and presented to his wife. Uhuru Gonja Houston had been killed in the September 11 th terrorist attacks while attempting to rescue victims trapped in the World Trade Center.at the

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