Clergy Death

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It is with a very heavy heart that I share with you the news that we believe  Israel Ahimbisibwe, his wife Dorcus and their youngest son, Israel Junior (Jay), age 5, to have been the family were found dead at their home in west Houston earlier today.  Israel was vicar at Redeemer, Houston.     The police have not officially released the names or cause of death and are still investigating, but we plan to have a prayer meeting at Redeemer this evening at 7 p.m.  Holy Spirit, where Israel served previously, will also hold a prayer meeting at 7 p.m. tonight.      What I do know is that this morning, the apartment manager opened the family's door when concerned church members said Israel and Dorcus had not shown up at church on Sunday and failed to respond on Monday morning.     This is a horrific and awful tragedy. We have had prayers with Israel's family here in Houston and we will help investigators in anyway that we can.  Please keep the Ahimbisibwe and Redeemer families in your prayers, as well as the broader Ugandan community in Houston.     Israel Ahimbisibwe was ordained in the Church of Uganda and held masters degrees from both Princeton Theological Seminary and Harvard Divinity School. After completing graduate research at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, he earned an additional masters and doctorate from Rice University.        IX Bishop of Texas