A Sudden Goodbye, A Clearer Call To Keep Writing

byJohnMaluth

443 followers

3 days ago

I was not planning to write this kind of update today. I was deep in my 2026 planning, scheduling posts and building my Talks, Tools, and Texts. Then life reminded me again how short our time is.

Just over 24 hours ago, my pastor and spiritual father in many ways, Rev. Peter Mony-yiik, died in Nairobi. The doctors said it was a heart attack. I had just met him a few days before his death, after he arrived from Kakuma. We met at the house of our Moderator General, Rev. Saphano Riak. I had no idea those were his final words to me.

This is what he said:

“You are doing well, John. You have made a name, not only for yourself, but for us, the church, relatives, and ultimately, for God. Keep writing. Your books means a lot to the world.”

I just said, “Thank you, pastor.”

The next day he had some health complaints and went to a nearby hospital. They told him all was fine except high blood sugar. He was advised to go back home and return the next morning. When that morning came, he said he had slept better, but woke up feeling heavy.

He wanted to go back to the hospital. It is just across the road from home. On his way, he told the young evangelist walking with him, Emmanuel Mony-wach, that he was tired and needed to rest. Emmanuel went to look for a motorbike to help him reach the hospital.

By the time they reached the hospital, Pastor Peter was already gone. He was confirmed dead on arrival. No second meeting. No chance for more words.

That is the story that is now sitting on my chest as I write this to you.

Before I met him that last time, I had been thinking about death. I wanted to speak to our church members about how we, even as Christians, mourn as if we do not really believe that those who die in Christ are alive with God, just in a different form. I was asking myself, “Do we really believe what we say we believe, or are we just repeating words on Sundays?”

Then I met him. Then he blessed me. Then he died.

So what am I learning from this, and how does it connect with my work here and my 2026 plans?

First, his last words were not small talk. They were a blessing and a commissioning. He did not only say “well done.” He said, “Keep writing.” He linked my work to my people and to God. “You have made a name for us, the church, relatives, and ultimately, for God.” That sentence will follow me into 2026.

Second, his death reminded me again that our schedules are not guarantees. I have already written all my articles for johnshalom.com for the entire 2026. I have also written all my newspaper articles for that year, including a full series about China, South Sudan, Africa, and the wider world. That was hard work. It took a lot of hours and a lot of coffee.

But here is the truth. I may reach 2026, or I may not. Pastor Peter had plans too. A short walk across the road to the hospital became his final journey. That is how near the edge is for all of us.

Third, it sharpened how I see my 3Ts and my three words.

My 3Ts are:

1. Talks
2. Tools
3. Texts

My three words are:

1. Inspiration
2. Empowerment
3. Integration

Inspiration is my Vision and my Being. It is that moment when a human being wakes up and says, “My life matters.” Empowerment is my Mission and my Doing. It is where we learn, practice, and build. Integration is my Value and my Meaning. It is where we belong and contribute to a larger story, what I call the ecosystem of life and existence.

For Christians, these three stages can be seen as justification, sanctification, and glorification. But some of my readers are not Christians, here and on my website, so I prefer to use simple language. The results are the same. We wake up. We grow up. We show up.

Pastor Peter’s last words pulled all of this together for me.

He affirmed my Being: “You are doing well, John.”
He pushed my Doing: “Keep writing.”
He pointed to my Meaning: “You have made a name for us, and for God.”

That is Inspiration, Empowerment, and Integration in one short blessing.

So what does this mean for my work here at Wealthy Affiliate and for 2026?

1. I will keep talking
   I will continue to use WA as one of my “Talks” platforms. I will share what I am learning about life, faith, writing, and online business. Not as a perfect man, but as someone who has walked through hunger, war, and now the sudden death of a spiritual father.
2. I will keep writing for The Individual, The Family, The Tribe, The Country, and the World
   My 2026 website posts are already written and will be scheduled to go live at least every three days. Each one fits somewhere on that road: from the individual, to the family, to the tribe, to the country, to the world. My goal is the same: inspire, empower, and integrate human beings into a meaningful life.
3. I will keep using my tools
   My ten tools, including Wealthy Affiliate, are no longer just “products” or “subscriptions” to me. They are instruments. They help me push Talks and Texts into the world while there is still breath in my lungs. Every scheduled post is a seed planted into a future that is not guaranteed. That makes the work serious, but not heavy. It is an act of faith.

There is also a very practical lesson.

If you ever hear words like “high blood sugar,” chest pain, heaviness, or breathing trouble, do not ignore them. Use your hospital early, not only when it is almost too late. Take your body seriously. It carries your calling.

Now to you, my WA family.

Many of us here are building websites, offers, funnels, and content calendars for 2025, 2026, and beyond. We set up automations, scheduling tools, and evergreen content. That is wise. But Pastor Peter’s story has reminded me to ask a simple question:

If I do not see all the years I am planning for, will the work I have already published still serve someone without me?

That is how I am looking at my content now. And that is how I want to look at my business here at WA too.

I will end with a few questions for you.

1. If someone you respect gave you one last sentence about your work, what would you hope they say?
2. Are you building your online business as if you will live forever, or with the humility that you might not?
3. What is one thing you feel called to “keep doing” in your business and in your life, no matter how short time feels?

Thank you for reading this long and personal update.

Today, I honor the memory of Rev. Peter Mony-yiik by doing exactly what he told me to do.

Keep writing.