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By:
HARRISON MAINA | |||||||||
| Posted:
Jun,25-2018 15:26:57
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WOBURN, Mass.__As the shocking news of the sudden death of pastor Benon Kawala (59) of the Ugandan community in Waltham continue to hit many people, the departed man of God has been hailed as an extremely humble, selfless person who had a unique ability to unite people from different backgrounds with ease, and making them feel comfortable to work together for common good. During a memorial service Sunday at the Global Evangelical church in Woburn, religious leaders from different African countries as well as locals of Caucasian and Chinese backgrounds gave moving testimonies of the work the late pastor did in their communities where he served as a spiritual teacher and social worker. Pastor Kawala died last Friday at the Boston Medical Center after a brief hospitalization occasioned by complications of liver cancer according to reliable family sources. He left behind his wife, lady May Kawala, who served alongside her husband to minister the gospel over many years and is currently a rising gospel artiste. He also left behind four children, 3 boys and one girl all who reside in Kampala, Uganda. A funeral service has been planned to take place on Saturday June 23 at the Christ Episcopal Church (Home of Uganda's St. Peter's Anglican Church) at 750 Main Street in Waltham after which the body will be repatriated back to Uganda for burial at his rural home of Iganga District. During the memorial service that saw over 600 mourners from all different faiths including Muslims and Christians from various denominations and countries turn out to mourn the loss; many speakers said that pastor Kawala had left a gap that is hard to fill.
He was described as a pastor with no boundaries and was able to minister in many different churches where he left a lasting legacy. "We are really saddened by the loss of our dear pastor and colleague. He has done so much for the Kingdom of God especially with planting many churches both in USA and back in Uganda. May the Lord receive him in eternal peace and protect the family he has left here," said pastor John Baker Katende of the Global Evangelical church who led the service. At the time of his death, pastor Kawala was a member of the Christ Antioch Church , a multinational, multicultural church based in Waltham. Pastor Sean Richmond, leader of the Christ Antioch church told mourners that the departed congregant was always a happy man who did a lot of good things. He praised him as a person who had given his whole life to the service of following Jesus and was always looking to unite people using the principle of repentance, forgiveness and redemption as prescribed by Jesus Christ. "Unity comes with repentance, moving towards each other and forging. Pastor Kawala showed us how to do this and with his death, we should strive to do this more often.This is a step the Lord has given and we must follow him. Don't think this is just aMzungu telling you this but you can see for yourself how many people are here from difference communities," said the pastor causing a light moment with the Mzungu (white man) reference. Pastor Sean's words were echoed by Sophia Ma, a close family friend of the Kawala's and served at the Christ Antioch church with them. "He was always smiling no matter how difficult the circumstances were. He really had a lot of Faith in God," Ma said. Describing the final days before her husband passed away by her side, Kawala's wife said she loved him for many years, including during his sickness until he took the last 3 breadths of his life. "I loved him until the end. I asked him to tell God to prepare a place for him just before his final 3 breaths," she told mourners. She added that her husband's passing served as a clear signal that God wanted to unite the church that has been divided in so many ways. "Though he has just died, he has shown us that one can do something that can bring so many oeioke of different faiths together. If anyone has doubt, ask yourself why we are all here from different churches and religions." "Prepare to do God's work. It does not matter whether you are from Kenya or Uganda, China, America or anywhere else," May Kawala added while praising her departed husband for building a nice house for his mother back in Uganda and another one for her own mother as well. Pastors John and Joan Wachira of Christ is the Answer Church (CITAC), a multi-ethnic but largely Kenyan community church where the late pastor Kawala frequented once in a while said they were deeply saddened to hear of his death. "Pastor Kawala was a man who went beyond his nationality. He was a pastor without borders. Sometimes it's hard to reach out to people who are not from your community but he did it anyways with a lot of humility. He used to come to our church in North Chelmsford many times and would humbly sit in the back until we would send an usher to bring him up front," said Rev. John Wachira while flanked by his wife, Pastor Joan Wachira. Other pastors who spoke included Rev. Christine Nakiyune of the St. Peter's Anglican church in Waltham , where the late pastor had been scheduled to lead a Father's day service but died on Friday, 2 days before the planned sermon. Others included Pastor Samuel Mutyaba of the New Life church in Medford, Pastor Samuel Kasozi of the Victory Family Church International in Newton, Charles Bbosa of Global Evangelical church as well as several family friends. The funeral and viewing service will be held this Saturday will begin at 10am. A final life celebration will then take place at the Victory Family International church in Newton at 5pm before the body begins its journey to its final resting place at Busesa County, Buyaga Sublocation in Iganga District of Uganda. Funeral Schedule: Date: Saturday June 23, 2018 Viewing:2pm-4pm Funeral Service:4-6pm Venue:Christ Episcopal Church (Home of Uganda's St. Peter's Anglican Church) 750 Main Street in Waltham Life Celebration Time: 6pm Venue: Victory Family Church International 161 North St, Newtonville, MA More info: Pastor Charles Bbosa: (781) 608-6879 Pastor Samuel Mutyaba: (617) 857-9766 Pastor Mildred Lopes: (781) 888-4357 | |||||||||
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Source:
AJABU AFRICAN NEWS
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