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Dr Masimba Mavaza
The Seventh Day Adventist family and Zimbabwe at large have lost one of its humble and gifted brave soldiers of Christ, with the passing on of Elder Mike Munyuki Maponga.
Elder Maponga was born on 30 November 1943.
He was 80.
Elder Maponga was iconic, yet humble, he was always faithful to the gospel and to bringing others to Christ.
Saying farewell to a beloved evangelist is a poignant moment in the life of any congregation and any human being. It’s a time to express our gratitude, love, and appreciation for the spiritual guidance, unwavering support, and profound wisdom that our Elder has shared with us throughout his tenure.
As we bid adieu to a remarkable shepherd of our faith, sending heartfelt farewell appreciation messages for the elder becomes a cherished tradition. What I say today serves as a testament to our Elder, has a profound impact on our lives and reminds us that Maponga’s legacy of faith will continue to flourish in our hearts.
Elder Maponga was born in a family of eleven. He started the work of God when he was 12 years old.
Because of his love of God, he was given a beautiful woman and they got married in 1964 when he was 21 years old. From this union, God blessed him with eight children; David, Seth, Rachel, Lee, Dani, Charity, Tendai Ngoni Closer Tinomudaishe, Flee and Success.
He went through the pain of losing three children David, Lee and Dani. While he was still grieving for his children, his wife passed on in 2009.
However, this did not stop Elder Maponga from working for his God.
Elder Maponga’s life always reflected the words he preached from pulpits across the country and in the region. The word of God saw him going all over Africa to share the word of God.
Yet today, even as we mourn the loss of such a great man, Christians around the world know that he has rested and awaits the coming of the Lord. While others think he has gone home to be with the Lord he faithfully served throughout his life, the Bible says he has rested.
There is not an Adventist alive who can say that Elder Maponga has not helped them become who they are today, for without the assistance of the spiritual lessons they would not even be Adventists at all.
So many of us have stories to share of the matchless place that Elder Maponga has had in bringing us home to the arms of our sweet Lord Jesus, our redeemer and our best, eternal friend.
For if the truth is to be said it would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without the teachings and guidance of Elder Maponga.
Must we not say that it would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without our elders, pastors and evangelists who have shown us the way to eternity?
We can safely say we have walked with Elder Maponga and he has walked with us, on the journey toward eternity.
Elder Maponga has carried us in his heart and in prayers, and we have held him in ours.
When Elder Maponga rested on the waiting list of the heavens on high, he let out an eternally victorious battle cry.
As the world’s malignity is defeated and the demons weakly sigh;” “It is finished!” hails from the lips of the King of Kings, who with sovereign liberty, dies.
When a Maponga surrenders his life to be ordained for His august glory, it is only the beginning of the universe’s most beautiful love story; a story brimming with miracles of grace, hope and joy beyond all understanding; one that unveils the mysteries of God’s Kingdom and the salvation he is handing.
Elder Maponga was fully given over to our gratuitous God; for in the bloody footsteps of the suffering servant, he longed to trod; His Christ-like kindness and goodness far across the everlasting hills, will freely roll.
Maponga lived for the heart of his Master alone, many wounded hearts he directed to God to mend; many “Magdalenes” he helped to be saved from the stone-throwing community and countless forsaken souls he directed safely to their eternal home.
In the angst-filled darkness, Maponga helped spiritual children never again have to roam.
I first met Elder Maponga at a rally where he was a speaker.
It was my first time meeting him and I felt this blessed liking of him.
I admired his love for his country Zimbabwe and his commitment to pray for the country and its leaders.
He was humble and refused to be regarded as holy. He was a humble and sober servant of God.
Words will never fully express our deep love and appreciation for the work Elder Maponga did, nor the thousands who came to know Christ because of the work he did on behalf of God.
It is our prayer that thousands more will find their way to the Lord because of him even today and beyond. His sermons are still having an impact on many lives.
When someone serves God faithfully and with love, the church and the country respond with love, sorrow, and blessing.
When someone serves God faithfully in a local church, something remarkable happens.
That is what happened with Paul in Ephesus, and it’s what’s happened here in our country and in church as Maponga departs from this world.
Elder Maponga was a much-loved and highly-respected Adventist who touched lives across the divides. His son, Joshua, is also a pastor of his own kind.
However, 3 areas of Maponga’s life that stand out: Firstly his preaching ministry Maponga was the greatest preacher ever. One clearly remembers the passion and zeal with which he preached. He loved Christ. He loved the Word of God. He loved the church of our Lord Jesus. If I were to describe Elder Maponga in a simple biblical phrase it would be with the words “man of God.” Like Moses, like Elijah he was a man of God. Those of you who knew him will remember him as a man of godly conviction and persuasion. He stood firm on the principle of The Word of God alone. He did not make decisions in his ministry as to what was popular in evangelical circles; he did not pander to human applause; his pastoral leadership and decision-making were based upon the principle “What does the Word of God say?” When he preached one had no doubts that his goal was to preach the uncompromised truth of the Word. He had a fear of God which superseded any fear of man which enabled him to remain firmly committed to the truth when others in the ministry would compromise to popular appeal. He would no doubt want to appeal to those of you who are ministers of the gospel here today to be faithful to the Word rather than seeking worldly fame and applause.
Secondly, Elder Maponga was in the words spoken to Daniel, “a man greatly beloved” of the Lord. He walked with God. He communed with God. He spent hours in prayer interceding for the cause of Christ. In his prayer book, he would write the names of his family members, his friends and each member of his congregation. He would pray each day for each of these names, rising early in the morning hour and spending time with God in prayer. He was indeed an Elijah when it came to prayer. What a blessing his prayers were to so many indeed even to this country. A mighty warrior has left our ranks.”
What a call this is for us to take up the challenge to be fervent in prayer; to step into the gap that my Elder Maponga has left and resolve to become prayer warriors; mighty intercessors for the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. May a triple portion of the Spirit of Elijah that clothed Elder Maponga fall upon those who are called to labour in the gospel that they might become fervent prayer warriors for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, he was an example of faithfulness – faithfulness to his Lord and Master, Jesus Christ; faithful to the Word of God; faithful to his marriage vows…faithful in pastoring and preaching the Word; Faithful. What an example he has left us in a life of holiness. The other wonderful example he left was in the area of his sacrificial love and generosity. He would impoverish himself in order to bless others. I know that not only have his immediate children benefited from his rich generosity toward us but so many others have as well. When my Maponga became aware of their needs, he did not hesitate to give. If you ever hesitated to receive the gift he wanted to give he would say “Don’t rob me of my blessing. It is more blessed to give than to receive.”If anything Elder Maponga’s life is a testimony of God’s faithfulness to him.
Elder Maponga’s hope was firmly placed upon the Lord Jesus for grace and mercy. He knew his sins had been forgiven and that heaven was his destiny. He could lift his hands on his hospital bed and say “O, what amazing peace!” God was there for him in his greatest hour of need.
As he lay on his deathbed, he was upheld by the grace of God. There was not one word of complaint. He spoke of how blessed he was. The grace of God shone through him even in his last days. He will be sorely missed. We will cherish every memory of him. We will remember his godly example. We will strive to emulate that in some way. But above all, we will praise the God of grace who saved him; the Lord Jesus who came into this world to bear his sin on Calvary; who rose from the dead that he too might one day rise forth from his grave; who went into heaven to prepare a place for him; and who welcomed him there with the words “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Elder Maponga has in the words of the apostle Paul fought the good fight, run the race, and kept the faith. The challenge to us is to follow his example even as he followed Christ Jesus his Saviour – to remain faithful to the Word of God; to be uncompromising as far as God’s truth is concerned and to walk with God as he did; to become men and women of God so that we too might be welcomed into glory with the words “Well done, good and faithful servant!
To the Maponga family, we say as children have grown to love you and appreciate you and we will be there for you in the days ahead. But most importantly we know that Christ will be there for you who said “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” we can cry with John in revelation and say “Even so come Lord Jesus.”
We must take comfort in that Elder Maponga was able to look back on his ministry. He was able to reflect on his ministry with the knowledge that he had served God faithfully, and that he had also served the congregation well.
He served God selflessly as Paul said “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews…” (Acts 20:18-19).
Maponga did not hesitate to preach what was profitable, even when it was hard. He didn’t soft-pedal the truth. He went out of his way to declare and teach people to turn to God and put their faith in Jesus.
Elder Maponga lived among us honourably.
As we remember Elder Maponga with tears warming our cheeks we can only say Fare thee well Elder Maponga. “Fare thee well! and if forever, Still forever, fare _thee well” Till we meet again.
To mukoma Lazarus Maponga and mai and Joshua Maponga only God will comfort you.
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