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Nairobi (Kenya): President Barack Obama's Kenyan
Muslim grandmother came within hours of converting to
Christianity yesterday but changed her mind after her
son prevailed on her not to attend a large evangelistic
crusade at a sports stadium where she was to be
baptized.
Mama Sarah Obama had dressed and was waiting for a
vehicle, hired by members of the Nyang'oma Seventh Day
Adventist Church, to take her the 60 miles to the
baptisimal service being held at the Jomo Kenyatta
Sports Ground in Kisumu.
When Pastor Tom Obuya arrived at Mama Sarah's Nyang'oma
Kogello home, he was told she would not be accompanying
him to the Christian service. "Mama Sarah had assured us
that she was converting, and we were ready to baptize
her today, but it seems the family has prevailed upon
her," said Pastor Obuya.
Saidi Obama, Mama Sarah's son, said he and other family
members were adamant that she not attend the baptisimal
service. "I was opposed to it because I believe she was
not fully informed about what they were going to do to
her. I personally asked her not to attend the function,"
he said. "I did not understand why they were asking her
to attend a Christian ceremony, yet she is a Muslim. I
thought her presence in the church would not add any
value."
In the past, Sarah Obama has made conflicting claims
about her religious beliefs. In April 2007, she told the
New York Times, "I am a strong believer of the Islamic
faith." Eleven months later, when some were speculating
Barack Obama might be a “secret Muslim," she denied it,
telling USA Today that she, too, is a Christian.
"In the world of today, children have different
religions from their parents," she said.
Her immediate family, it appears, considers her a Muslim
and wishes it to stay that way.
Obuya said his church had been reaching out to Mama
Sarah for the past three weeks. Two of her
sisters-in-law, who were to accompany her, went with
Obuya to the crusade conducted by Australian evangelist
John Jeremic. Her baptism was to mark the culmination of
the evangelistic crusade.
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