Africa

One of the events that bring people together among our people are funeral wakes and funerals. 

Sometime last year, we had one of our church leaders have his wife taken to be with the Lord. It was a challenging time not only to the man, his family and the church, but the community as well. The community gathered every evening for four days before the actual funeral. 

The man who lost his wife was a pastor and a respected leader. The death of this dear woman brought together church leaders and people who would otherwise not ordinarily meet and worship together! 

The speakers and preachers on each of the days came from different churches and denominations. The unity of the body of Christ became a reality to many. Christ was lifted high, and the funeral wake literally became a revival of some kind. The presence of Christ was felt as the Spirit of God touched many who participated in these services. 

Funerals are generally accompanied by mourning and grieving. In this instance there were signs of loss, but for the greater part it was indeed celebrating the life of one who had exemplarily walked with Jesus. 

An exemplary walk 

Testimony after testimony came from people who were not part of the church expressing how this departed sister and brother (the husband) had significantly touched their lives. 

At the funeral service, one of her workmates (the deceased was a teacher) gave a touching testimony. When other teachers went on strike demanding what they believed to be their rights, the deceased never participated, believing that for her teaching was a calling. The welfare of children was her priority. 

Parents’ representatives also testified of the same and that over the years the children she taught almost always produced the best results. 

At her funeral, many people who had absolutely nothing to do with the church attended her funeral and testified of God’s love and goodness and the worth of following Jesus. 

Let me point out that funeral wake gatherings are more or less cultural and expected. However, it is the Spirit’s demonstration of unity of the church and the reality of the transformative power of Jesus that was experienced during that time. 

People still testify about that funeral wake to this day. The transformative power of Jesus made this funeral different from among many. 

For us Christians and indeed many others, the funeral wake, and the funeral itself made the words Paul in Romans 14:7-9 come alive. These words continue to encourage us: 

“For we do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” 

Amen. 

—Danisa Ndlovu is the MWC regional representative for Southern Africa. He is [role] in the Brethren in Christ Church in Zimbabwe. 

This article is adapted from the speech he presented at Renewal 2024, “Transformed, together we live Jesus” 6 April 2024 in Brazil.