Elder Obey Ndalima Mwakalonge Passed Away

MARCH 31st, 2009 Email from Elder Sam Bryant:
Beloved in Christ,

I am so sad to report that I just received word from Eld. Martin and Sis. Mary in Kenya that Bro. Obey passed away around 10 am this morning. This news will bring sadness to many people, especially his family and his church in Tanzania. The sadness I feel is unspeakable. However, I am finding great comfort in the fact that Brother Obey embraced the same truth that our beloved Apostle Paul did, "to live is Christ and to die is gain." He died knowing that salvation is a gift from a loving God and that multitudes of his African ancestors will be in Heaven by God's grace.

His burden was to establish the Primitive Baptist church in Tanzania. He was blessed to to do that. Before he returned to Africa, he told me he hoped some day to preach the gospel in Kenya. God richly blessed him to do so. He made many trips to Kenya to help with the gospel work there. He was able to help Elder Vernon Johnson and Elder Mike Ivy ordain 5 ministers in Kenya and constitute 5 churches there in Feb. He got sick while in Kenya and was never able to return to his beloved Tanzania.

Sister Mary told me she wanted to take his body back to his home town for burial. There he will rest until Jesus comes. Please keep his wife and children in your prayers. Also pray for the church in Tanzania. I hope to visit them as soon as possible.

Also keep Vestavia church in your prayers. We will mourn his passing deeply.

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Sam Bryant