PASTOR MARGARET OBAGA

Last Sunday July 15th, 2012 was no ordinary Sunday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Yes, the breeze was like any other Sunday morning, and yes, the boy strolled the streets with a hot kettle looking for customers for his freshly brewed pot of coffee as the crowds waited for matatu. As the city slowly awoke, most didn't know that something special was going to happen that morning. Someone special was being ordained to become a pastor. Who? You ask? Well, we know her as Mama Obaga, or Mrs. Margaret Obaga if you want to be formal. You see, for many years now, Mama Obaga has been pursuing her studies to become a pastor in the Lutheran Church. That mission of her life finally came to its fruition last Sunday, July 15th, 2012. The ordination service took place at the Nairobi International Lutheran Church. The rite was presided by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Zakariah Kahuthu. Quite appropriately, the theme of this special day was from Mark 6:14-29 - "Remain faithful whatever the cost." Even though being a pastor is a calling, it is no secret that the Obaga family has paid dearly in the process. Her calling is in a male dominated career, she chose to pursue her studies in later in her life, and she had to divide up her family between two continents and make tough decisions of who to leave behind and who to take with. She had to make the difficult decision to leave her husband behind and travel to Kenya to complete her studies. All these 'costs' did not derail her mission...her calling. Yes, it has been costly. Did her faith diminish? Not a chance. Being in the presence of Mama Obaga, you are immediately immersed in her warmth, her confidence and her assuring smile inviting you in her calm voice that..."whatever it is, whatever the cost, it will be alright, God is with us." We here in Minneapolis congratulate her and her family for this huge accomplishment. The Lutheran Church may have marked on its calendar that she became a Pastor officially on July 15th, 2012, but to us,she had been our Pastor the first day we met her,the first time she ministered to us in our small Swahili congregation... And that was way before July 15th, 2012. HONGERA SANA!!