From The Arusha News Reporter in Moshi.
Retired Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Northern Diocese (ELCT-ND), Dr Martin Shao, was laid to rest last week in Lole, Moshi District, Kilimanjaro Region eulogized and remembered as a humble servant who left lasting mark on the church and the wider community.
The late Bishop Shao (86), passed away on August 25, 2025 while receiving treatment at the ELCT-owned Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC). He was ordained a pastor in 1966 and rose to lead ELCT-ND as Bishop in 2004. He retired in 2014 after a decade of service at the helm.
Among the mourners was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, who conveyed condolences on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. He lauded Bishop Shao as a servant whose influence went beyond the pulpit, noting his role in uniting the church, the people and the wider society.
Mourners also described him as a man of peace and a bridge between faith and the community. The Head of ELCT Bishop, Dr Alex Malasusa, said Dr Shao’s life reflected Christian values and commitment to safeguarding peace through reliance on God.
Ordained at the age of 27, Dr Shao dedicated his life to service with humility. Even after retirement, he established an institution to continue supporting communities in different ways. Bishop Shao’s family has been urged to remain strong in faith as they carry forward his legacy of service and devotion to God.
