Friday, January 20, 2012

Rev Alfred Mahon

The Rev Alfred J Mahon was born on the 19th October 1896 in Msinga, Zululand. He was the son of missionary parents who commenced the work of the Mahon Mission in South Africa. Alfred did not desire to become a missionary and left home to serve in the police force in South West Africa. It was here that he met Margaret (born Haagen), or Meg as she was affectionately called by her friends. Alfred was largely instrumental in her finding the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savoir. Once that great matter had been settled, they not only joined hands in matrimony, but in the work of the Master, and for fifty years they served Him Faithfully in this way.
Alfred was a linguist; he spoke English, Afrikaans, and Zulu fluently. He also knew Sotho, and he used this ability well in preaching and in providing a monthly paper for Africans in the vernacular.
For more than thirty years Alfred served as the general superintendent of the Mahon Mission, and he played a leading part in drawing this mission, with its 8 000 members into association with the South African Baptist Missionary Society.
Proverbs 21:21 says, "He that followeth after righteousness and mercy, findeth life, righteousness, and honor", and this was truly fulfilled in the lives of Alfred and Meg. In their ministry from Christ they at all times displayed a transparent honesty and sincerity. To describe the character of Alfred one needs positive and generous words, for he was born to leadership, although grace fashioned his life, and words like spiritual, dedicated, dependable, and sincere only partly present the picture of the man. Meg added to these qualities a warmth of affection, loyalty and wide interests.
Alfred found it easy to lead. He had a personal interest in everybody. He was a natural diplomat. People found it easy to trust and confide in him and whether he was addressing a senior government official or an African herd boy he was always the same and equally at ease in the presence of either. The evidence of Alfred and Meg’s sincerity, faith and example is surely seen in that their three sons - Edgar, Lyle and Alfred Jnr - are all in the ministry.
The Rev Alfred Mahon and his wife Margaret were called home on 23rd August 1976 when through a fatal accident they were both ushered into the presence of their Savoir.
Written by: Syd Hudson-Reed

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