The 8-year-old daughter of embattled prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, has died in a hospital in Kenya.
As condolence messages pour in from all over the world, the pain of a grieving father could be heard and felt as Shepherd Bushiri spoke at a press conference to announce the sad news to the world.
The eight-year-old had been battling a lung infection and placed in and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at an undisclosed Kenyan medical facility after being referred by Malawian doctors. However, there were delays in getting her medical attention and treatment after the Malawian authorities initially blocked travel and access to medical facilities which were outside Malawi.
Bushiri bemoaned the fact that his daughter had become a victim of the persecution that has followed his family from South Africa.
Bushiri said that a doctor had advised that if she had not been blocked at the airport the first time she needed to travel to Kenya for medical assistance, she may not have died. “It is very disheartening and sad, therefore, that my daughter has become a victim of the persecutions that we are facing from SA,” he said.
He described his daughter as a strong young girl who loved to worship and serve God, despite her young age. Bushiri said he and his wife choose not to mourn her but to celebrate her life.
Meanwhile, condolence messages continued to pour in from all quarters in and outside the Bushiri circles.
Writing on his official Facebook page Bushiri’s spiritual father (Ambassador) prophet Uebert Angel said:
“The most beautiful and intelligent light is gone not from our presence but only from this earth. Heaven has been graced by a beautiful presence.
What we know for certain is that in this time of grief we know we are not ignorant of where Israella is.
The Bible says :
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
Our hope is built on nothing less but on Christ the solid rock.
Rest Well Israella
#TillWeMeetAtTheRapture”
Another message which was of interest was from long time critic of these modern day prophetic churches, author Brilliant Pongo, who wrote;
“All other things aside, I would like to express my deepest heart felt condolences to the Bushiri’s and in particular Mary and Shepherd Bushiri
It is deeply saddening to hear of your loss.
May God comfort you at this time of such loss your daughter was so young and it is devastating to lose any life at any age but for a parent to lose a young child it is more than devastating it is heart wrenching.
Take comfort in knowing that it was God’s will she has been promoted to greater glory.
Please do accept my deepest heart felt condolences.”
The leader of ECG called on the members of his church and others to join them not in mourning but celebrating the life of his daughter Israella. Bushiri asked those present at the press conference to give a clap offering in celebration of her daughters life.
“Today, my wife and I choose not to mourn her but to celebrate her life. I do not believe that the devil could take the life of my daughter.
She was a child of God and she passed on to be with Him according to His will. We prayed and we fasted, we commanded out- and in this week, when the Lord spoke to me that it will be a week of His will- His will has taken place.
Family, join me, not in mourning as those without hope but in celebrating the life of Saint Israella. She shall always be remembered and forever carried in our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 4:13, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”
Throughout all his speech it could be felt and could be seen there was no hiding a father’s pain.