28/04/2022
Tribute for a fallen soldier in God’s Kingdom – Mrs. Sihle Jamela!
Yesterday death claimed one of our longest serving members in our assembly.
On Sunday number 2 after starting the Church, Mrs. Sihle Jamela (then Miss. Sihle Ndlovu), walked in to join the church. Apparently, a few months earlier, while our house was still under construction, the Lord had revealed to her in a dream, that our home would house a church. So without billboards or any form of signage she walked in, because she had been on the lookout for the church that was promised to be her spiritual home.
In 2011, I was privileged to travel to Zimbabwe to officiate at their wedding with her husband, Mr. Bekezela Jamela, whom she leaves behind. My wife and I enjoyed a deep friendship and connection with not only this couple in the Jamela family, but literally became part of the Jamela family in Zimbabwe. Later that same year, I travelled together with my wife to Zimbabwe, to officiate at a different wedding, for another couple belonging to our congregation, the Jamela’s were our hosts.
She was our ‘go to person’ for prayer and support, the type of person who prays for the pastors when everyone else might forget to, as is sometimes the case. I once confided to a friend, that every pastor needs a committed someone with a strong and accurate prophetic eye, exactly the way she did. She was someone who was not shy to correct us when need arose, she always a loving and respectful way of doing this…
After the last bout of illness she suffered, my wife and I prayed for her diligently, and spent countless evenings at her place. In the past ten days, my wife insisted on intensifying prayer for her. We had people in various parts of the world praying for you to be healed. We had believed the Lord would spare your life. However, as with David of old after praying for Absolom, we accept her departure.
I went to the hospital to visit her on Tuesday afternoon. Amazingly, even in silence and pain, she had gained favour with the medical staff of OR Tambo Memorial Hospital (located in Boksburg). After fellowshipping with her and praying for her; as I left the hospital ward, I cannot begin to explain the sound of her voice singing from within me (since at this time she could not talk in words), and singing the old song: “I’m going home to die no more…”. I rebuked the ‘devil’, and silenced this voice because that is what I know. Later that same evening, her family was summoned back to the hospital, and I joined them. The children were not having it easy, infact none of us were. For a few months now we had been praying for her, as indicated earlier. Yet this one evening, which was to be our last encounter on this side of the grave, I couldn’t pray for her. All I did was to lay my hand on her and pronounce the priestly blessing, in accordance to Num 6:24-26.
Later this year, the leadership of Word of Eternal Life Church had planned to ordain you ‘maJ’, I was supposed to lay hands of ordination on you and not bury you. Everything was set, as this was overdue. Of all my seminary text books, none prepared me that losing a church member to death can also hurt the pastor. This I honestly did not know.
My heart is swollen with both grief and gratitude. In my heart of hearts I know, that if pastoral care could keep anyone from dying, then you’d still be here. As my wife said to me last night: “we did everything we could”. I am however extremely grateful to God, for having been chosen by the heavens as your pastor of over a decade (almost two decades actually), especially in a world where people constantly change their church memberships.
MomJ founded and led a prayer ministry made by a group of wonderful ladies, and it was birthed and the Lord gave the name: “Kingdom Defenders”. These women specifically pray for pastors and their families, in view of the challenges faced by those in the frontline ministries. They have spent countless hours and days literally praying in places like Mt. Zion. My family has also been privileged to have housed some of their prayer camps. I know for certain, that the members of Kingdom Defenders are hurting and having countless questions. I also know that, the Lord will see them through.
Equally called and anointed by God, yet you faithfully served with both humility and diligence.
Fare thee well Servant of the most high God, siyakubonana kwelizayo – kakade lomhlaba asilokhaya lethu, ikhaya lethu lisemazulwini!
