Church service at Shilo Baptist Church belonging to the Providence Industrial Mission in Area 22B, Lilongwe, was brought to a halt on Sunday when their pastor struggled for breath and collapsed hitting back of his head against the floor.
He sustained a cut at the back of the head after the collapse.
Witnesses said church elders went immediately to fan him with some air, but could not resuscitate him and took him to Kamuzu Central Hospital where doctors told them he was already dead.
Pastor J.D. Makande is a third pastor to die suddenly in the month of January after pastors Buleya and Chitedze.
The death of Pastor Makande has unearthed long dead stories of pastors’ deaths in which residents suspect foul play.
Local leaders in Area 22B said on Monday morning they were fed up with the deaths and wanted to talk to the president of PIM, but after their meeting with him in the afternoon they seemed not to have reached a consensus.
Group village headman Chimpunga said he was disturbed at the deaths saying there was need for an immediate solution to the problem.
“We are very worried about the deaths. This is the third time that a pastor has died in the same fashion. Not sick and in January,” complained Chimpunga.
“Maybe the church should close temporarily until we find a lasting solution,” he suggested.
At the funeral ceremony on Monday, five women were taken out of the church in feats of hysteria while one girl fell unconscious, but woke up later.
However, PIM president Rev Dr Patrick Makondesa ruled out foul play saying the cause of death was injury.
Rev Dr Patrick Makondesa however says the church was equally concerned but they will go by what the doctors indicated that the deceased died from head injury.
He said the church was unfazed and still had the hope that God was in control of the situation and dismissed calls from locals to close the church
“It has not happened in three consecutive years. We have lost three pastors in the past ten years at Shilo Baptist Church. Every death is a mystery and we believe God will take care of the church,” he said.
However, rumours are still rife that the deaths were unnatural.
PIM was established in 1900 by John Chilembwe and was closed in 1915 after Chilembwe uprising but has continued to grow ever since its reopening.mana
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