PASTORAL CONDOLENCES: JOSEPH SHEM ONYANGO (1936-2010)

In the Blessed Hope: Fare Thee Well Pastor Onyango

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Pastor Mwamukonda Wrote:

When death strikes it is unbelievable. When my wife Tabitha told me the sad news I received it with disbelief that Pastor Joseph Onyango the gifted preacher,a person perhaps who has joined many couples than anyone in Tanzania is no longer with us. It was not easy to fit into his shoes when I succeded him as a pastor in Mwanza in 1970. He was then married I was single. He was a good good speaker I was not as good as he was. He was more experienced I was just fresh from College. He was far better than I was. Yes Pastor has ended his earthly pilgrimage. His works shall follow him. Though he retired he was still active. In fact he died when he was on a mission. May the good Lord uphold the widow, children, relatives, friends and the adventist church in East Tanzania Conference and in Tanzania Union as a whole at this time of bereavement.

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Pastor B. Muganda Wrote:

When the untimely death of Elder Onyango occurred on Friday I happen to be in Morogoro on my vacation. I got the news within five minutes of his passing. This is another sad chapter in Tanzania Union, again another veteran giant is asleep in the Lord waiting for that glorious morning!

Yesterday I visited the family and offered words of encouragement as we reminded ourselves of the beauty of the "Blessed Hope"! At that time the family spokesman briefed those mourning with the family that due to late arrival of the beloved children from UK and other family members from Mara and beyond the borders of Tanzania and Kenya, the family has decided that the funeral will take place on this coming Thursday, September 23rd here in Morogoro.

I met Elder Onyango last week and he looked even younger than ever before. I joked with him if he would like to reenter the workforce and gave me his usual smile. Death is cruel!!!

Thursday night the late Elder Onyango gave a very powerful lecture on Family life at the ongoing Evangelistic program going on for the last two weeks. He concluded that evening's program with a very moving prayer.

On Friday, around 2pm Elder Onyango while crossing the road just a few hundred yards from his house near (White House bus stand - those from Morogoro in Kihonda) to catch a minibus to the main bus terminal for the bus to Dar es Salaam where he was scheduled for officiating a wedding on this Sunday was hit by a very fast moving motorcycle, and it appears he died instantly. Upon arrival at the Morogoro Regional hospital he was officially pronounced dead.

I thought it would be very unfair for me not to share the eye witness account when I am here in Morogoro.

Let us remember the family as they mourn the loss of their beloved Daddy and husband.

Hang in there ladies and gentlemen - we are indeed Wasafiri in this world - sooner very sooner we are going home! We are tired of seeing beloved ones leave us one at a time!

Yours in the Blessed hope!
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Elder B. Nyambita Wrote:

He Was Coming!!

It is now a history brethren,

He is the Lord's servant sent about two months ago to bring back the lost flock of TEGETA. The solid week of revival full of inspiration and sincere prayers that he committed church members into, will now and forever ring into our ears.

It was his last great mission in Dar es Salaam. He was among the pioneers of the SDA CHURCH in town and surely he came back to complete the mission.

The day of his death he was traveling for our great visitor’s day at TEGETA. He did not make it, we only have his name in our bulletins.

Oh Pastor!!
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Doctor D. Sando Wrote:

He was a golden gift to a church that we could ask no more from GOD ! He was such a blessing and a prime example to our pastors and the church as a whole !

Its like sweet dream that is gone fast even before its morning ! And I started asking myself again this: Untill when my GOD !!! When is the end of this!

He was an inspiration to me and I have always liked his way of teaching and pastoring!

He is physically dead but will never go to seek him in his grave because he is living in our hearts. And we will always rejoice for he has fulfiled a bigger part of his eathly purpose !

I will surely miss him!

See him in the new earth where the power of death will be no more !

My prayer that his family will celebrate for the life that has contributed a lot and touch the souls of many.
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Sister B. Makaranga Wrote:

I can still hear his voice as he used to pause during his speech -----"ndiyo.....mmmmhhh!"

The last sermon with our Church(Mwenge) was emphasing the sacredness of the Sabbath day...... He really touched most of us(members).

In the afternoon he gave us wonderful words regarding Child rearing skills and Communication skills in general

ITS SO SAD AND ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT He is no more!

My sincere condolences to all the Thisdaso Associates.

Lets be faithful so that we meet him on that great morning!Its a spiritual challenge though!
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Brother M. Masatu Wrote:

Many many years ago, I am told, the late Pr. Shem Onyango was at the jaws of death following a serious disease he was encountering. He gave this testimony himself at a certain crusade that was conducted around Mzumbe area in Morogoro. For more details on the story you may wish to communicate with Kaka Rweyemamu Barongo who was attending the crusade. The late pastor witnessed that he prayed to God like never before, sometimes he did it overnight. At the end, there was a good "in the end" from God. He harkened unto his cry, and his health was restored. Nadhani wengi wetu tunaweza kuwa mashuhuda wa afya yake ilivyokuwa njema, irrespective of him being many years "young."

Sasa hebu fikiria: Mungu akamponya na hicho kilichokuwa kikimsibu na kuhatarisha afya yake lakini akaruhusu alale kirahisi namna hii, oooh, come on! Anyway, God's ways are not men's, and vice versa is also true. We can NEVER know Him enough.

Hebu na tuandae mapito yetu. Mara nyingi matukio kama hayo yanapotokea huwa yananiweka karibu zaidi na Mungu (I think it is because of humanity's hipocrisy [or mine to be precise]). Mwaka huu tulipoteza kijana mmoja hapa ofisini kwetu kwa ajali ya gari (alikuwa akivuka barabara). He was a lovable guy to almost everyone. Following the incidence, I was greatly disturbed kiasi cha kwamba hata nilikuwa nashindwa kuvuka barabara (I was taking a couple of minutes just crossing the road). Mwaka huu huu pia alifariki rafiki yetu mmoja ghafla tu bila sababu yoyote huku akimuacha mjane wa mwaka mmoja tu. Kwa kweli tulisikitishwa sana! And here Onyango joins!

I am surely sorrowful for our beloved pastor. May God give us all the necessary strengh, hope, and let the Holy Spirit help us to prepare our ways in every fraction of a second of our lives, as far as it is possible with us.
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Sister P. Samson Wrote:

SO SAD

Dear all,I am just writing this mail with tears flowing down my cheeks,PASTOR ONYANGO IS NO MORE.
Please pray for me,he was my good friend.
God bless you all
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Brother J. Sanawa Wrote:

These sad comments cannot pass by unnoticed. The old adage goes: Like Father - Like Son! Those of us who can remember well, this great Pastor had a great son who went on to become our Union Treasurer: Mr. Maxwell Onyango - who like the dad was killed in a bizzare road mishap!

Both of these potential great sons of mother Africa - one siring the other, have lived a fulfilled life but too short to call it a shot. We still needed them. How I wished that I could renew my matrimonial vows with Pastor Onyango at the helm of the affairs!

MAGOMENI CHOIR DAY/SIKU YA KWAYA

This Sabbath (4 September 2010) is “Magomeni Choir Day”. Magomeni choir is ministering in both worship services at Magomeni SDA Church and also it has prepared special music programs in the afternoon from 2: 30 pm. You are all welcome to participate in this worship service dedicated to praise in songs, and don’t forget to come in the afternoon for the special choir programs.

Sabato hii (4 Septemba 2010) ni ‘Siku ya Kwaya Magomeni’. Kwaya ya Magomeni inahudumu katika ibada zote katika Kanisa la Waadventist Wasabato Magomeni na pia wameandaa vipindi vizuri vya mchana. Karibuni wote kwenye ibada ya sifa kwa njia ya nyimbo, pia karibuni mchana kuanzia saa 8:30 kwa ajili vya vipindi vilivyoandaliwa mahsusi kwa ajili ya siku hii.

ADDRESS/ANUANI
100 MKALAMA STREET/100 BARABARA YA MKALAMA
MAGOMENI MWEMBECHAI

EVANGELIST LEDMAN SHUSHA'S FAREWELL TESTIMONY TO THE CHURCH

He passed away in his old age (80+) and was one of the pioneers of the gospel in the Usambara mountains, especially in Lukozi and all the surrounding areas. He spread the gospel till his death, till his final strength was exhausted.

He never bothered to wait for public evangelism, he never complained for financial support from his church for evangelism, he went with his own foot, going through valleys and hills; the present churches in those highlands are the harvest of the seeds he planted .

Though he died at night and buried the next afternoon, the multitude of people of approximately 800+ was there and the others, not even numbered, continued to flow; till I departed they were still coming to witness just even the grave.

In the last two months, he met all his friends, church officials, his daughters and sons (except those who were far, like me and my wife) and to all whom he met he gave a special Bible verse to remember and a church hymnal song to remember forever. Kila mtu alipewa lake [Everyone was given his/her own verse].

In the last three months, alianza kuchanganyikiwa na kupoteza fahamu kwa muda [he started to lose consciousness], but when he came back to his senses he told people that "nimeona umati wa watu wengi sana wamekuja hapa kwetu na wamekuja kwa ajili yangu" [I have seen a gathering of many people who have come here in our place for my sake].

To everyone he met, he mentioned all places that had not yet received the gospel, that he was unable to reach in the Usambara mountains. And he was sad for not being able to go there.

When he was taken to the hospital he called for a pastor but the pastor was not there, he said, "the gospel has not been preached yet in some places and I need to see the pastor". He asked for a piece of paper to write a message for the pastor, but his hands were not able to write and he slept.

Few moments before sleeping he said to all the people he met "Siogopi kufa, najua nitakufa, ila namwomba Mungu niwepo kwenye ufufuo wa kwanza" [I am not afraid of dying, I know I will die but I beseech God that I may be present in the first resurrection].

Brethren, huo utabaki kuwa ushuhuda wa milele katika mtaa wa Lukozi na milima ya Usambara. Je sisi tunafanyaje? [Ndugu that will remain to be an everlasting testmony in the Lukozi area and the Usambara mountains. As for us, what are we doing?] Have we really examined our christianity as God expect us to do??? Tangu nimetoka msibani sijisikii tena kulia[Since I came from the funeral I no longer feel like crying for] because I am sure he prepared his life for eternity.

Msisikitike kwa ajili yake, wala msisononeke kwa ajili ya upweke tulioachiwa sisi watoto wake, tuzililie nafsi zetu na familia zetu kwa ajili ya wokovu wetu" [Let us not saddened for his sake or be sorrowful because of the emptiness has has left us his children, let us wail for our souls na those of our families for the sake of our salvation]

* A Tribute by Bungayo Mayo