Our Prayer Focus this month is on Prison Ministry.
We have unlimited access to all prisons across the country. However, as a small team, we must focus on those that are within a reasonable distance from us.
A typical visit involves a time of preaching the Gospel, often to the entire prison population. This is followed by distribution of food (maize) and Prison Hygiene packs or locally purchased soap if packs are not available.
Give thanks for this incredibly valuable opportunity to reach thousands with the Gospel
Pray for the expansion of prison ministry, as prisoners in several prisons are now studying Emmaus Bible courses.
Pray for the resumption of planned prison visits. Fuel shortages mean that we are unable to conduct these visits at present. Pray that this situation will improve so the work can continue.
Pray for supportive and cooperative prison chaplains who can help this important work develop.
Pray for the distribution of prison hygiene packs. These practical gifts demonstrate genuine care for people who are often forgotten.
Pray for the safe arrival of the large shipment of John’s Gospels and New Testaments, which will be distributed among prisoners.
Pray for prisoners’ health, asking God to preserve inmates from disease and malnutrition.
Above all, pray for their salvation, that prisoners will come to know the Lord through His Word.
Thank you for praying.
Prison visitation is an increasingly important part of SALT’s ministry
Pray for the latest shipment to Malawi. Around one million 2027 calendars, together with tens of thousands of New Testaments and Gospels of John, have faced delays due to staff shortages and equipment problems at the printer in Northern Ireland.
Pray for safe and speedy transit. We expect the container to ship within the next two weeks. However, time is now very short if we are to meet the best window for calendar distribution in Malawi. Pray that there will be no further delays.
Pray for the prison hygiene packs. Stephen and Gail delivered around 60 cartons of prison hygiene packs and other materials on Friday. These will go to Malawi with the container.
Pray for a second container. We hope to ship another 20ft container to Malawi before the end of the year, carrying Nthawi ya Baibulo (Bibletime) lessons and Gospel tracts.
Pray for the printers. Mechanical problems have delayed these orders. Pray that the printers can resolve the issues quickly and complete the outstanding work.
Pray for the new Gospel tracts. We also need to complete the translation and revision of a new series of tracts. Pray that this work progresses well and does not cause any further delays.
Pray that obstacles will be overcome. Despite careful preparation, difficulties seem to arise each year. Pray that the Lord will make the way clear and that this literature will arrive in Malawi at the right time.
Prison Packs & Calendars / Gospel of John ready for shipping
We are delighted to announce the commencement of a Monthly Malawi Prayer Meeting, to be held online on the third Saturday of each month.
The purpose of these gatherings is to encourage greater prayerful interest in the Lord’s work in Malawi and to provide regular opportunities for supporters and friends of the work to come together in prayer and thanksgiving.
As opportunities for ministry continue to develop, we believe it is important to keep God’s people informed so that they can pray intelligently and specifically for the needs of the work.
Why a Monthly Prayer Meeting?
Prayer is central to every aspect of Christian service. Through these monthly meetings we hope to:
Encourage informed and focused prayer for the work in Malawi.
Share current opportunities and challenges.
Give thanks for answers to prayer and evidence of God’s blessing.
Strengthen fellowship among those with an interest in the ministry.
Support ongoing outreach activities, particularly among children and young people.
Meeting Details
When: Third Saturday of every month
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
Time: 13:00 Central Africa Time (CAT)
Time Zone Equivalents
Location
Time
New Zealand (NZST)
00:00 (Sunday)
Eastern Australia (AEST)
21:00
Western Australia (AWST)
19:00
Malawi
13:00
United Kingdom (BST – summer)
12:00
United Kingdom (GMT – winter)
11:00
Eastern Time, North America (ET)
06:00
Mountain Time, North America (MT)
05:00
Pacific Time, North America (PT)
04:00
Please note that local times may vary when daylight-saving arrangements are in effect.
The meeting time has been chosen to fit around Saturday afternoon children’s outreach activities in Malawi, allowing local workers to participate before commencing their ministry responsibilities.
What to Expect
At the beginning of each meeting we will provide a brief update, including:
Specific matters for prayer
Recent answers to prayer
Thanksgiving items
Current opportunities and challenges
Areas where prayer support is especially needed
The format will be simple, informal, and focused on bringing the work before the Lord together.
Register Your Interest
We warmly invite all who have an interest in the work to join us.
Meeting invitations and relevant prayer updates will be sent to existing email subscribers. (Subscribed to receive “Weekly Prayer Points” or “All Updates”) *
Whether you have supported the work for many years or are only recently becoming acquainted with it, you will be very welcome.
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2
We look forward to gathering together each month to seek the Lord’s blessing on His work in Malawi.
*If you are not already subscribed, you can do so here:
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The story of Simon M*’s gospel outreach shows how the Lord can use preaching, Christian literature and the testimony of a changed life.
Preparing to become an imam
Simon came from a Muslim background and had completed his studies to become an imam.
He attended an open-air gospel meeting with others who intended to disturb it. However, as the meeting continued, Simon listened to the preaching, received some of SALT’s Gospel literature being distributed and subsequently came to faith in Christ.
His decision came at considerable cost.
Rejected by his family
When Simon’s family learned that he had become a Christian, they drove him from his home village. They also took the fields he had been using to grow food.
Simon moved to his wife’s village. At that time, his wife remained a Muslim and told him that she was not prepared to follow him in his new faith.
However, she began to see a significant change in Simon’s life.
Before his conversion, Simon had regularly been unfaithful to his wife and often stayed away from home until late at night. After he became a Christian, his conduct changed.
The transformation helped his wife to see that his Christianity was real. Simon explained the gospel to her, and in time she also came to Christ.
When her family discovered that she had become a Christian, they drove the couple from the village. Simon and his wife then moved to a small trading centre, where they began renting accommodation.
Simon’s Gospel outreach
Despite this treatment, Simon wants to reach his own parents, his wife’s parents and the people in both villages with the gospel.
Harold has supplied Simon with gospel literature, which Simon is now distributing in the surrounding area. According to Harold, people who knew Simon before his conversion have become interested in Christianity because they can see the change in his life.
Simon’s story demonstrates how gospel literature can continue to bear fruit. Literature was available when Simon heard the gospel, and Simon is now using literature to help others hear the same message.
Please pray
Pray that Simon M* and his family will remain strong in their faith.
Pray for practical provision following the loss of access to their former fields.
Pray for Simon’s efforts to reach relatives and neighbouring villages.
Pray that the literature he distributes will lead to further gospel conversations.
Pray that those who observe the change in Simon’s life will consider the gospel.
The first phase of SALT’s new hostel accommodation at Saidi is now in use, marking a significant milestone in a project that has been several years in the making.
For some time, one of the major limitations on Bible teaching conferences at Saidi has been accommodation. While interest in the conferences continued to grow, the availability of nearby lodging often restricted attendance and made it difficult to host larger residential events. That challenge was one of the driving reasons behind the decision to construct dedicated on-site hostel accommodation.
Today, although the project is not yet fully complete, we are thankful to report that the hostels have already begun serving the purpose for which they were built.
From Vision to Reality
The hostel project began with the objective to create practical, affordable accommodation that would allow more believers to attend Bible teaching conferences, training events, and other residential programmes at Saidi.
What seemed straightforward on paper proved to be a substantial undertaking. Since construction began, the project has navigated a range of issues including rampant inflation, procurement challenges associated with sourcing of materials across international boundaries, transport delays, and the day-to-day realities of managing a large construction project in Malawi.
Despite these setbacks, progress has continued steadily, if slowly at times. The site was levelled and foundations were dug just over a year ago. Since then, walls rose from the ground, the roofs were installed, and the electrical and plumbing systems were fitted. The bedroom furniture was being fabricated and assembled even as the recent conference was beginning.
Looking at the completed structures today, it is encouraging to see how far the project has come.
Welcoming the First Guests
The greatest encouragement, however, has not been seeing buildings completed. It has been seeing people use them.
During our recent Bible teaching conference at Saidi, the first wing of the hostels were brought into service for the first time. While accommodation remains more limited than we ultimately intend, the buildings provided much-needed space for residential attendees and immediately demonstrated their value.
For several years we have talked about the benefits these facilities might bring. In recent weeks we have begun to experience those benefits firsthand.
Visitors were able to stay on-site, reducing travel pressures and helping attendees participate more fully in the programme. The atmosphere created by having believers living, eating, fellowshipping, and studying together throughout the conference is precisely what we had hoped the facilities would help foster.
There was a real sense of gratitude and relief among the team as we watched rooms that had existed only on drawings and construction plans become spaces that were actively serving the Lord’s work.
The new hostel buildings at Saidi are now operational and have already begun serving residential conferences and training programmes.
Functional Rather Than Finished
As you can see, the hostels are clean, functional, and comfortable, if not luxurious!
Bedrooms have been furnished with bunk beds, lighting, fans, curtains, and mattresses. Shower and ablution facilities are operational, even if there isn’t hot water for all!
However, the accommodation is not yet fully finished.
One of the most visible outstanding tasks (apart from the fact that the east wing and common room have only been built to window height) is the internal painting. At present, the cement-rendered walls give the corridors, bedrooms, and wash facilities a somewhat austere appearance. Once painting is completed, the buildings will feel significantly brighter, warmer, and more welcoming.
Bedrooms are now furnished and occupied during events, helping create a residential environment for learning, fellowship, and spiritual growth.
Built for Long-Term Ministry
The hostels form part of a wider vision for Saidi as a centre for Bible teaching and training, and a hub for literature ministry. Our ambition is that the facilities will be brought into regular use throughout the year.
We are already exploring opportunities to host additional training programmes, literature worker gatherings, and residential Bible teaching weeks. The ability to accommodate visitors on-site opens possibilities that simply did not exist before.
That prospect is perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the whole project.
Although internal painting remains to be completed, the accommodation is already providing clean, practical facilities for conference attendees.
Looking Ahead
While much has been accomplished, quite a bit of work remains.
Like many operations in Malawi, we continue to face the effects of high inflation and rapidly rising construction costs. Prices for materials, transport, and labour have increased significantly during the life of the project, meaning that completing the remaining works requires careful planning and stewardship.
Nevertheless, we have reached an important turning point.
The conversation is no longer simply about constructing hostels. It is increasingly about how the facilities can be used to strengthen believers, expand Bible teaching opportunities, and support the work of the gospel for many years to come.
As we look across the site today, we do not merely see buildings. We see believers being taught, friendships being formed, workers being equipped, and opportunities being created for future ministry.
For all of this, we give thanks to God and remain grateful to everyone who has prayed for the project since its earliest planning stages.
The hostels are not yet fully complete, but they are already fulfilling their purpose.
And that is a tremendous encouragement.
Now that the conference is behind us, work continues to complete the East wing of the first Hostel unit – we hope to complete in good time for the next conference in May 2027, Lord willing.
Lengthy fuel queues have returned in Malawi after a short period of improvement. These shortages are causing significant frustration and disrupting daily activities.
Please pray:
That fuel supplies will improve and that long queues will ease across the country.
That foreign currency availability will increase. Traditionally, forex levels rise after the tobacco harvest but then decline significantly.
That Malawi’s economy will stabilize despite rising global fuel prices and ongoing economic challenges.
That shortages of essential items, including propane for cooking and medicines in government hospitals, will be addressed.
That people will be protected from the dangers of black-market fuel, which is often mixed with damaging alternatives.
Above all, that the Lord will overrule in these circumstances and ensure that the work continues without hindrance.
We give thanks for the printing of around 3,000 Emmaus Lesson and Test Booklets in Malawi.
We are especially grateful to Tom and Debbie Turnbull, who volunteered two weeks of their time to assist with the printing work. Their practical support has made a significant difference to the Emmaus ministry.
Please join us in thanking God for:
The successful printing of around 3,000 Lesson and Test Booklets.
The opportunity to print materials in-house, which can reduce costs by up to 50% and help make the best use of limited resources.
Gail’s help with collating booklets after completing Emmaus lesson grading.
The ability to scale up the Emmaus work despite operating on a tight budget.
The safe return home of Tom and Debbie, even after their flight from Blantyre was cancelled because of bad weather.
Tom and Debbie’s willingness to continue helping with this work several times each year.
We also thank God for the progress made and pray for wisdom as we address a few ongoing challenges:
Finding suitable binding solutions for larger booklets of more than 100 pages.
Strengthening backup power arrangements during the wet season, as cloudy weather reduced solar electricity generation toward the end of the printing period.
Additional volunteers who may be able to assist with future printing work.
May these printed booklets continue to help many people engage with God’s Word through the Emmaus ministry.
In addition, believers from the surrounding area and within daily travelling distance increased attendance to approximately 110–120 people during the week.
Give thanks that God helped Mark and Stephen as they taught from 1 and 2 Thessalonians. We are grateful for the clear teaching of His Word and for the encouragement it brought.
We also thank God for the local sisters who worked tirelessly under Anna’s supervision to prepare and serve three meals each day.
Give thanks for Harold’s diligent translation work and for Goodson’s efforts in helping everything run smoothly throughout the conference.
It was especially encouraging to see evidence of spiritual growth in those who have attended these teaching weeks year after year.
We believe the Lord will use the teaching shared during the week to produce a rich spiritual harvest in the lives of many attendees.
Please continue to thank God for His provision as work progresses on the hostel, and pray that the remaining construction can be completed in the coming months.
We are encouraged by the possibility of holding two conferences each year. Furthermore, the additional accommodation should enable smaller groups to gather more regularly for Bible teaching and fellowship.
The Bible Teaching Conference begins today and will continue until Friday. As we study 1 & 2 Thessalonians, please pray for the Lord’s help and for His abundant blessing throughout the week.
Please pray:
For the teaching sessions, that God’s Word would speak clearly to every attendee and produce lasting spiritual fruit.
In thanksgiving that the hostel accommodation, although not yet completely finished, is sufficiently complete to provide lodging for around 50 visitors.
For all practical arrangements to run smoothly throughout the week.
For the ladies who are preparing three meals each day for five days, with very limited facilities. Pray for strength, and encouragement in their service.
For the speakers (Mark & Stephen), that they would remain fresh, clear, and dependent on the Lord as they minister His Word.
For Tom and Debbie Turnbull as they concurrently work on printing Emmaus booklets. Pray that the printing work would progress well and be a blessing to many.
