In Memory of Joseph Wakaria(1963 - 2016)
- Name
- Joseph Wakaria
- Spouse
- Juliette Wakaria
- Children
- Ji-Yung, Ji-Mi, Samouhan, Sharon
- Birth Date
- September 1, 1963
- Blessing Date
- January 12, 1989
- Ascension Date
- October 25, 2016
Our beloved and dear brother, Joseph (Joe) Wakaria, of the Washington DC Family Church, ascended to the spirit world on Tuesday, October 25, after a battle with cancer. Joe is a loved and respected brother by all who know him; and especially loved and cherished by his devoted family. Joe met True Parents and joined our movement in Kenya in 1983, and has been a dedicated and involved member of our church family in Kenya and in the USA ever since. Joe will be remembered by many, who will miss him for his peace loving and caring attitude as a leader, brother, and family member.
He is survived by his wife Juliette, and their four daughters, Ji-Yung, Ji-mi, Samouhan and Sharon.
Let us support Joe's family during this important and special time, and pray together for his victorious transition to a glorious new life in the spiritual world.
Following is a biography and information about the Seonghwa Service from his family and the Washington DC church pastors.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ki Hoon Kim
Continental Director
Dr. Michael Balcomb
President
Joseph (Joe) Njoroge Wakaria was born on September 1, 1963 in Nairobi, Kenya as the third son and fifth child in a family of seven. His elder brother James witnessed to his beloved younger brother, and Joe joined the Unification Church of Kenya in 1983. Eventually, all his brothers and sisters joined the Unification movement. Very quickly, an American missionary named Kenneth Gray noticed Joe’s intelligence, determination, and generous heart, and helped him acquire an International Relief Friendship Foundation scholarship for the following year. On that scholarship, Joe was able to come to the USA, where he completed his undergraduate studies at Bowie State University. Joe went on to complete the Master of Divinity program at the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) and later, he earned a second Master’s Degree at the University of Bridgeport.
After UTS he returned home to support and develop the Kenyan church. Joe received the Marriage Blessing from True Parents in 1989 with the 1275 couples in Korea and, in 1997, Joe returned alone to the US to work with the American Family Coalition. He was able to bring his family to the US in 2002 and they eventually settled in Maryland.
Joe attended the Washington, D.C. Family Church for many years and, earlier this year was elected Secretary General of the Church Council. Constantly reaching beyond his church community, Joe was an integral part of his large Kenyan community.
Joe is a man deeply cherished by his family, highly appreciated by friends who know him as a peacemaker, and known as a selfless community leader in the Washington, D.C. area. Everyone who met him could see that he lived his life as a truly caring human being.
After fighting valiantly through this second round of brain cancer, our dear brother, husband and father Joe ascended to the Spirit World on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at 12:05pm. In the US, he is survived by his precious family: his wife Juliette Wakaria and four daughters Ji-Yung, Ji-mi, Samouhan and Sharon.
Prayer Vigil
Every evening from 7pm – 10pm community prayers will be offered at the Washington DC Family Church, 1610 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC until Nov. 5.
Seonghwa Ceremony
The Seonghwa Service will be held Saturday, November 5th, at 10 AM at the Washington DC Family Church located at 1610 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC 20009.
Won Jeon Ceremony
The burial will take place on Saturday, November 5th, at 1 PM at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, at the National Won Jeon, 3401 Bladensburg Road, Brentwood MD 20722.
In lieu of flowers, please offer your support of the family through GoFundMe, either by participating in the community fundraiser or by sending a check to the family.
Community Fundraiser
October 29, 2016
3pm – 8pm
Washington Family Church
1610 Columbia Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20009
Checks can be made out to Juliette Wakaria and sent to their home:
Mrs. Juliette Wakaria
1262 Allen Court
Waldorf, MD 20602
- Time
- 10 AM
- Date
- Saturday, November 5, 2016
- Location
- Washington DC Family Church: 1610 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC 20009
Michael Balcomb
| #
Rest In Peace, brother Joe. I always respected your candor and honesty.
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Bruce Biggin
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Rest in peace dear brother, You were truly a great patriot and champion of freedom. I count it a privilege both to have known you to have worked with you.
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Mark Anderson
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Joe had a heart to serve God and went above and beyond the call of duty many, many times. A wonderful man and a great brother who will be missed.
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Barbara Moseley-Marks
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My dear brother, Joseph, may you have a smooth and swift transition and a glorious life in your eternal home.
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Bruce Smith
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Farewell my beloved brother. May you be welcomed with open arms by all of ancestors who prayed you would meet the True Parents of Humankind and serve him in liberation of God and your homeland.
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Edwin Plekhanov Ondoua Nna
| #
Dear Brother Joe kindly proceed well to your new life.As we remains back we will try to fixe where you left it.For Juliette and the girls life is a journey we have to all be ready for that.We finds ourselves in the same spiritual family of Keita and Betty. Be strong.Aju
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Dr. John Moon Kasongo & Family
| #
My beloved brother,
I bid you farewell and want to cheer you up into entering the eternal spirit world. Sooner or later I will be making the same one-way trip. May you get a new mission centering on our True Parents and help build Cheon Il Guk on this earth
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Paulin PELEKAY
| #
Joe, my friend and borther
really you teach me to be humble as source of integrity since we met in 1997 in DC. I will keep this remembering as farewell and i wish you fin transition in spirit world where surely you find a way to complet your mission.
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Henri Schauffler
| #
We all love you, Joe – you brought grace and gravitas to everything you did. I was so pleased to work with you in AFC and together at the grassroots level doing those AFP events in Lanham MD.
God Bless you and your new mission in Heaven – I know you will always be working!
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Mary Ann Schaffer-Wigton
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Love You brother Joe! You helped me so much….way across the continent here in Washington State with Accounting for AFP, ALC, etc. Amazing, ethical, knowledgeable, humble, kind, and patient. Thanks so much Joe. You always guided me along patiently so we could get it right. Go in Peace.
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Betsy Ormn
| #
Joe,
I can only think that if you were called to the spirtual world it is because True Father is creating his dream team in heaven to govern that world and this world as well. I know your sacrifices will be rewarded there. I pray your family will continue to follow your example of selflessness. God be with you, his precious wife and childen during this time of loss. May he/she watch over you until you all meet again in the eternal world of true love.
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Betsy Orman
| #
Joe,
I can only think that if you were called to the spirtual world it is because True Father is creating his dream team in heaven to govern that world and this world as well. I know your sacrifices will be rewarded there. I pray your family will continue to follow your example of selflessness. God be with you, his precious wife and childen during this time of loss. May he/she watch over you until you all meet again in the eternal world of true love.
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Jane Karimi
| #
Hey Joe
We are still dealing.
It is difficult to accept your departure.
Two years later and it still feels like yesterday.
You have been the hardest for us to accept to let go..
We are still wishing that we could have done more.
I hope that time will heal everything.
Nobody can fill your ever conspicuous absence.
You are missed dearly by Ezra and Jane and by
the Republic of Kenya which you so treasured,
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