Tribute to Elder Obey Ndalima

 During my latest trip to Kisii, Kenya to ordain four men to the office of elder and to constitute five churches, Elder Obey Ndalima of the First Primitive Baptist Church of Tanzania came to Kenya to help in the work as it was at the direction of the church he pastored that the men were being ordained and the churches were being constituted.  When he arrived in Kenya he was very sick.  I encouraged him to go home, but he insisted on staying and finishing the work before us.  After the ordaining of the four elders, Elder Obey's health had deteriorated to the point that we had to put him in the hospital in Kisii, Kenya.  He never recovered from this illness but passed away on March 31, 2009.  Below are two letters of tribute to Elder Obey.  The first letter was written by Elder Martin Onyoni, the first elder in Kenya ordained in July 2008.  The second letter was written by Elder Obey's widow:

Dear brother and sister in Christ,

I know there is a great sadness and heaviness in each one of our hearts. I know we have sweet precious memories of our late bro. Obey. Hebrew 13:1-2 reminds me of Elder Obey’s first visit with Vestavia PB Church one Sunday morning. He was a stranger to you all but you entertained him. This was because of God’s grace and the love of Christ in you. We need to continue exercising the love towards one another. We never know whom the Lord has sent our way, it may be one of God’s little sheep that is seeking and searching for his place in life that he might be able to look for consolation in our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. This reminds me of that Sunday morning when you welcomed bro. Obey in your church when the Lord directed him to Vestavia Church. The Lord purposed his coming. The Lord had to prepare him to bring the true Gospel to Africa. His desire was always to pray to God that the Lord’s children might receive salvation here in time, because he knew that they were already God’s children saved by Jesus blood shed on the cross. Elder Obey has died a hero, while he was enduring for the elect’s sake. He has died in the battle field. We know that Elder Obey’s soul and spirit are in a far better place with our Lord. We comfort ourselves in the knowledge that all the bodies of the elect and non elect await the great morning of the resurrection when our Lord that come with a loud shout.  As he delivered his last charge to the four brethren, he together with Elder Vernon Johnson and Mike Ivey and me had come to ordain in Kisii- Kenya he strongly quoted and finished saying from 2nd Timothy 4:6, 7: For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.  And these were his last words to the whole congregation. As he was closing his speech, tears started rolling down his cheeks. Most of members could not hold back their tears also as each passed by him at his seat and bidding him bye. He has accomplished what he has started in Kenya, to ordain elders and constitute churches. May the Lord bless the fruits of his labour. The Lord had taken him home to rest, the very time we needed him more than before both in Kenya and Tanzania.

Whenever he was in Kenya, he could feel like he was home. His presence, preaching and singing was a great blessing to many here in Kenya. His deep love for our Lord Jesus Christ was indeed a challenge to many. We sadly miss his blessed services.

Sincerely the blessed hope we have in our Lord becomes more precious and makes us think of some sweet day to come in future. Surely elder Obey has gone home to be with his and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. What a wonderful assurance that brings to us! Though we will miss his wonderful and blessed services here on earth, we hope that one day we will go to him. It will take us too long to forget him.

I have a great burden to serve and take care of my brothers and sisters in Tanzania as well. I have a great burden and desires to continue with his work from where he left. I pray that God may give me strength and ability to spread the good news of the Lord throughout Africa. We need God’s grace to do all these. I hope the Lord is or has already prepared someone to Pastor a church in Dar-es Salaam, but I feel burdened to team up with Elders to prepare someone to be ordained as an elder in Tanzania.

We sincerely loved Elder Obey, but the Lord loved him most. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

Since I am not able to be with you at this memorial service rejoicing together in the Lord in memory of our late Brother Elder Obey, I wish you the Lord’s blessings in this occasion.

Amen.

Your brother and servant in Christ,
Elder Martin Onyoni
Pastor of First Primitive Baptist Church of Kenya - Kisii

Dear Pastor Sam,

I greet you and all primitive Baptist members in the precious name of Jesus Christ. It is a happy day to me that God has given me strength to write this short message.

You really have lost your hero son, the most reliable person, a man of integrity, delightful, conversationalist, the most thoughtful and giving ho!

What can I say about Obey? To me, he was the love of my life, a perfect teacher to let me and my fellow Africans to know the truth of the word of God.

It is a great blessing to here that you’re going to hold a memorial service of my beloved husband. I’m with you in prayers. His struggle for the work of God and impossible dream which finally come true will remain as a pillar in my life. Let’s be transformed from weeping but join him in everlasting life in heaven.

May you please receive my so special thanks for your all effort you did to save my husband’s life. You did so many things which are unexplainable, yet you’re continuing to do; May God bless you forever. I’m glad to here that you’re coming to visit us (in Tanzania) this month, we are all eagerly waiting to see you.

Convey my tender greetings to all Vestavia Primitive Baptist Members the church which was my husband’s homestead. I know for sure you love me and you pray for me. “Sis Nelda pray for me”

It’s me with full of love,
Mary Obey Ndalima