Lifted beyond the grey clouds: The Late Ben Bahati on the many lives he touched

It was breaking news that was spine-chilling, a shocker of truth from the late Bishop Ben Bahati's wife, Mary, that threw the gospel fraternity into grief on Monday evening and Pulse's SHEILA KIMANI talked to celebrities paying their tribute to the man of God we all respected

“I am heartbroken to confirm that Bishop Ben passed away. Selfishly, we are all devastated, but as Christians we should understand that this is not the worst thing that can happen - for Bishop Ben himself, it is the best thing that could ever possibly happen to him. He has gone home and is dancing with Jesus, free from pain, free from his broken body, free from all the heavy burdens of this world,” Bishop Bahati’s wife wrote on her social media pages.

“I have cried millions of tears these past three months and I will miss Bishop every day for the rest of my life. But now that he’s home, I think he would tell me to stop wasting time crying and get back to the field to win souls,” she went on with the emotional message that caught everyone by surprise.

The popular preacher and singer who has been the inspiration behind the success of many gospel artistes among them Daddy Owen, Rufftone and Ole Willy passed on while undergoing treatment after a road accident along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway about three months ago

The Atakukumbuka hit-maker who had been travelling home from Nairobi was involved in the grisly road accident on August 11, 2014, and many believe it was a case of bad weather as the heavy rains may have deterred his vision, leading to the car’s loss of control.

A Good Samaritan who witnessed the accident rushed the preacher to the nearest Eldoret hospital where the doctors performed surgery. He had sustained injuries that lead to the breakage of his C6-C7 vertebrae, and worse still he contracted a respiratory infection that left his throat and vocal cords affected.

Fortunately the gospel fraternity which includes Bishop Bahati’s mentees and close friends came through to help his wife Mary Bahati and the family to offset the bills.

Sadly, Bishop Bahati passed on last Monday evening, three months since the accident and after fighting the “good fight”. Word is that he was in critical condition and may have suffered a cardiac arrest that led to his passing.

Having being a leader in over 50 churches across Kenya as well as being in charge of orphanages, he led a congregation at Eldoret’s Global Field Evangelism. Definitely, Bishop Ben Bahati’s legacy lives on.

He leaves behind a wife, three children - Grace, Abigael, and Teresa - and an industry of mentees and fans whose lives he touched.

Rufftone:

It is with great sorrow that I let you know of the passing of my spiritual father Bishop Ben Bahati. Let us pray.

Reverend Kathy Kiuna:

Rest in Peace Bishop Ben Bahati... You fought a good fight and you’ve finished your race.

Daddy Owen:

Just lost a father and a mentor.

DJ Krowbar:

This hero here Bishop Ben Bahati has gone to be with the Lord. See you in heaven mentor.

J Blessing:

We will miss you papa, a true man of God who lived his life well in Christ

Eunice Njeri:

He loved winning souls! Will miss you sana. Rest in peace Bishop Ben Bahati. I pray the Lord’s comfort over you.

Adawnage

Our condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of the late Bishop Ben Bahati. He was a great man of God.

Hey-Z:

Bishop Ben mentored the youth on very many levels and he has left a gap that we shall strive to fill. I wish comfort to his family and may his young daughter be brave in this period, do her exams and pass with success.

Ole Willy:

Bishop had a vision to preach the word to over 50 million people and he felt like days were passing by so fast. But what comforted him was the knowledge that in us, he had left a message that we would go on to spread. We are the letters which Bishop wrote, his legacy shall be read through us by generations to come.