Apostle of Love and Thanksgiving

A TRIBUTE TO BABA PAUL SHIDALI An Apostle of Love and Thanksgiving I knew Baba during the last few years of his life, but that time was more than enough for him to leave a lasting impression on my heart and make a meaningful impact on my life. I met him after he had retired from more than fifty years of fruitful ministry. Although I did not have the privilege of sitting under his ministry, I came to know him after the public platform had grown quiet—at a stage of life when titles and accomplishments recede, and the character behind the ministry is clearly seen. In 2024, I had the rare privilege of living with Baba under the same roof for about two weeks. Those days gave me a closer view of the man behind the ministry. The first thing that struck me about Baba was his humility. He treated everyone, old and young, with the same love, warmth and respect. There was no guile in him. His words carried the love that was in his heart, and his presence made people feel valued. Another thing I cannot forget was his spirit of thanksgiving. I cannot count how many times in one day he would say, “Thank you for your love,” even for the smallest act of kindness shown to him. At the dining table, it was, “Thank You, Jesus.” To his daughter, who prepared the meals, he would say, “Thank you for taking care of us. God bless you.” Thanksgiving was not merely something Baba taught or practiced occasionally; it had become part of his nature. He recognized love in the smallest acts and never took kindness for granted. And then there was the way Baba loved his wife. I remember one Sunday after the church service when I showed him to the washroom and waited outside the door. After he came out, I felt there was no need to return inside the auditorium because the service was over and everyone would soon join us so we could go home. But Baba said, “My wife is there. Let’s go inside.” That was Baba. After so many years together, his heart was still drawn to where his wife was. His love for her was quiet, faithful and deeply rooted. He loved her to the end. Whenever we spoke on the telephone, I could feel the love in his voice. He had a way of making you feel as though you were the most important person in the world at that moment. His love for God flowed through him to everyone he met, and it was evident in everything he did. That is why, whenever I speak of Baba, I call him an apostle of love. Baba may have departed this world, but the influence of his loving and thankful life remains. It will continue to be felt in the lives of his children, grandchildren and the many people touched by his ministry and example. I pray that the peace and goodwill he embodied and freely extended to others will remain with the entire family as you prepare for his funeral rites and throughout the difficult days ahead. Even in the midst of this grief, there is much for which to thank God, especially the gift of having such a man as your father. His life is something to thank God for, his memory is something to cherish, and his legacy is something to preserve. I will personally miss the love and warmth in his voice. But I believe many of us will continue to hear him in our hearts saying: “Thank you for your love. God bless you.” May the Lord comfort the entire family. May the seeds Baba planted through more than fifty years of ministry, and through a lifetime of humility, love and thanksgiving, continue to bear fruit from generation to generation. Nicholas Uanikhoba

“He taught me Humility, Love and Thanksgiving.”