Who said there was no MGO 2024? Last month, brothers from the Saidi assembly visited nearby markets for open-air preaching and distributed Seedsower texts – it’s exciting to see local brothers taking initiative! Here are some pictures:
Learn more about MGO here.
Brother Harold shared this encouraging note after trip to the Lower Shire region to distribute literature.
Hi everyone, the Lord knows that it’s good to be encouraged for us to continue to serve him with renewed energy and joy. Today in the afternoon on my trip to the lower shire to supply literature and to replenish the literature stock in the container at Bangula. I met this man Mr Ntantha who spoke so sincerely how he was very much blessed by the conference in the book of Corinthians and how this opened his understanding of the book. After the conference he read through the book thoroughly and ever since he has been teaching the book at his church in Sunday school time. He has lamented the fact that this was his first ever conference with Salt and how he feel to have missed alot on the other three conferences he never attended. It was very fulfilling to listen to his comments on the conference and its impact on him. He asked and encouraged Salt to continue such holding such meetings of extensive and yet profound bible teaching. Can anything bring more joy and fulfilment than this?
Meet Goliat Chisowa, a gospel literature distributor from the southern region of Malawi.
Transcript:
My name is Goliat Chisowa, I stay in Mwatheta village.
I have a family. I have six children.
Calendars help us, we give them to students so they can know the date.
The tracts encourage us because not everyone has a Bible. The tracts encourage us in the Word. For example, the tract “Going to Hell is your own choice”. So, where we may not have Bibles, we make use of the tract.
Meet Cyford Chimwaza who shares how tracts help him share the gospel in the most remote areas of southern Malawi.
Transcript:
My name is Cyford Chimwaza from Phalula in Balaka district.
[Tracts] help very much because we distribute in the remotest areas where people cannot find any literature, and when we reach them it shows that we are reaching them with Jesus and the Word of God. And we very much appreciate for the tract. [We distribute] In the district of Balaka and also in other districts, but our ministry we do very much in the remotest areas. So it’s like in the village, like in Manjawira and even in Phalula and around, even we enter into Ntcheu, Neno – around this area it’s where we distribute the calendars and also the tracts. And also we show Jesus film. So wherever we show Jesus film, we distribute the tracts. So it’s very effective in our ministry.We would like people to pray for us, especially this year as we are going through [a] difficult time with hunger and economic challenges. So when we meet the Christians and even other people, when we are talking about the Word of God others wonder how they can understand this as they are going through the hunger problem and other things. So if God [can] help us to give us wisdom so that whatever little we have we can also share. We share the Word of God spiritually but also we could love to share other things practically, like food and even medication. So, if God can open the doors of the help so that we can also extend the help to the needy. As we show spiritual love, we show also physical love as Jesus did. So help us to pray for that.
We’ve added a new gallery! Click here to explore images from a visit to the Lower Shire to meet literature distributors and supply them with gospel calendars in January 2024.
Here’s what Harold had to say about why schools ministry matters to him:
Why do school visits matter?
Schools matter a lot to me for two reasons…
First, this is the time when you meet students who are starting to mature. They don’t have much knowledge about salvation or the Bible. But they have open hearts to receive the gospel.
The second thing is that many of these students do not have the background of the gospel in their homes. And so, when you preach to the students, it’s like you’re giving them the gospel for the first time. And you can see how the gospel is accepted in schools and appreciated by the students… people who are coming from different backgrounds… they all have the opportunity to hear the gospel.
When did you start visiting schools?
Immediately after I got saved, in 1998, I felt that God wanted me to concentrate on going to schools and preaching the gospel. So, when I completed my secondary school in 1999, I started visiting schools and preaching the gospel. It has been like that partly, I think, because I was saved when I was at secondary school.
What’s your favourite thing about school visits?
My favourite thing about school visits is that it’s a place of open doors for the gospel… Sometimes when you go to the markets, others may want to sit down and listen, but others may not. But it’s different when you go to a school, everybody sits down and they listen.
Any favourite memories?
I’ve got so many memories about school visits, but one of the prominent things that comes to mind is the team in 2022 when we were visiting schools around Thondwe and Zomba. I have very good memories about how the gospel was dramatized and how everybody was able to contribute… it was presented in such a simple yet beautiful and lovely way.
Is there any feedback you’ve received?
I have received feedback from many students… in various schools. Good feedback like “I am from a Muslim background, but I would like to learn more about the Bible. Would you please help me and we develop some kind of relationship and we talk about the Lord?” And this has been so encouraging. Sometimes they just drop a message in my phone and say, “I come from a Muslim background. I received the gospel when you came to preach at our school. I’m not allowed to go to church, but I’m so happy that you came. I was able to hear what the gospel means”. Also… in towns and various places, some people have stopped me and said… “You came to our school at such and such a time… you were preaching to us with the white people that came.” So it’s just fantastic to see how the students in schools remember things – sometimes you even forget… and they’re able to remind you of some of the verses that were used.
“I come from a Muslim background. I received the gospel when you came to preach at our school. I’m not allowed to go to church, but I’m so happy that you came. I was able to hear what the gospel means”
What can people be praying for?
Schools are one of the best places to spread the gospel. And the Lord has actually opened such opportunities here in Malawi that whenever you go to schools, you are able to preach not just to the students, but also to the teachers. And one of the things that folks can be praying for is that in the course of time the Lord will be able to raise people, the teachers, that would be able to help in the Bible clubs in schools with sound gospel and that the Lord will continue to keep the door open… because there are some places, some countries where you cannot preach in schools… And that while the door is still open, that the Lord will also raise people so that the open door can be utilized. In my understanding, when I visit the schools, I always feel inadequate because I very much feel that with such open doors they’re just a few people who are taking advantage to preach to the students. So, it’s like open doors that are never fully utilized because the labourers are few.
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Learn more about children and youth ministry
Are you from North America and interested in supporting the work in schools? Learn more here.
Tomorrow Anna leaves for the Bible Educational Services (BES) conference taking place in Northern Ireland. DV. Please remember her in prayer.
The conference aims to provide attendees from all over the world with the opportunity to interact, build connections and acquire useful knowledge about training methods, safeguarding laws, and advancements in the field of children’s work.
Reflections from the team and feedback from all who took part in the recent Bible conference point to it being a time of great blessing from the Lord. Perhaps one reason that this year’s Bible conference was particularly encouraging was the way it aligned with SALT’s vision. It was incredibly fulfilling to have time together to enlighten, encourage and empower local believers to fulfill their part in the great commission.
The conference was enlightening to those who took part as it helped to bring greater insight into God’s Word and various issues of day-to-day, ministry and church life.
“I’ve learned how we can deal with some problems that happen at church,” says brother Kenneth from Thyolo. “…The lessons have been helpful to my spiritual life, family, but also my ministry because now I’ll be able to understand the book of 1 Corinthians with more understanding and it’s my desire to learn more deeply the book of 2 Corinthians and other books of the Bible.”
“To me, every lesson was helpful to my calling. My spiritual eyes have been opened to understand the Corinthian church/ the problem in the church today” – brother Liston, Lilongwe
“I’ve learned the evil of worshipping idols.” – brother Amos, Machinga
The conference allowed fellow workers to meet and be encouraged in faith, while learning from the faith of Paul and the experience of the church at Corinth:
“Bringing us together has allowed us to know each other and learn from one another.” – McOwen Thawani from Zomba
“I’ll be leaving more courageous, like Paul”. – Peter Mpumira, Zomba
It was also a chance to be reminded of and more deeply rooted in foundational truths:
“Truly we don’t need to build another foundation because the foundation is Christ.” – Wonderson Kapinda, Zomba
“Thank you for coming, next time do the same. We benefitted a lot …You just reminded us of what brother Goodson [said] a couple of months ago about salvation. Thank you.” – Robert Sawali, Zomba
Some shared that they were empowered with greater knowledge for sharing the good news.
“The lessons have given me power especially regarding how I can reach people with the good news.” – Miles Namakhwa, Mulanje
During one of the recesses, Anna also introduced distributors to the Nthawi Ya Baibulo (Bible Time) resources for children’s ministry.
“Yes, we are thankful for the ministry of Southern Africa Literature Trust for the lessons they have provided to ministers from different churches. These lessons have helped us to know more about our role. The conference has also helped us regarding children’s ministry because we lacked resources we could use. Thank you for this. – Precious Namukhonde, Thyolo
The privilege of sitting under God’s Word free of charge for a week with believers from all over the country (and the world) make brother Green’s words especially poignant:
“These are expensive teachings, if there was a price, we wouldn’t have been able to pay.” – Brother George Green, Zomba
We thank the Lord for His hand of blessing and for the prayers, support and effort of His people which made this time of enlightenment, encouragement and empowerment possible.
In March 2023, Cyclone Freddy, one of the strongest tropical storms to hit southern Africa, ripped through Malawi. In the space of 72 hours, the storm poured out half a year’s worth of rain, leaving devastation in its wake. An estimated 2,267,458 people were affected by the disaster with 659,278 people displaced in 749 camps. The evacuation camps were mainly sturdy structures within affected communities such as schools, churches and halls.
The Cyclone most severely impacted the southern districts of Malawi, including Zomba, where SALT is located. It affected not only SALT’s close neighbours but also our volunteers in various districts. While SALT could not do the heavy lifting in this disaster, it was a great privilege to come alongside our neighbours and volunteers at such an unprecedented time.
SALT visited 7 camps in three districts (Chiradzulu, Chikwawa and Zomba). SALT began responding at Lisao camp in Chiradzulu district then in camps in Zomba district. SALT “adopted” these camps paying them routine visits roughly every two weeks. Later in the response, SALT visited camps in the lower shire region which still had large numbers of displaced people.
The routine visits to evacuation camps were a unique element and especially helpful when it came to forming relationships and sharing the Word. Many camp managers said that they received food assistance only once from government or other organisations. This was a challenge because the food would quickly run out due to the large numbers of people there. Through the routine visits, families received regular support and heard the Good News preached.
We also provided food assistance to vulnerable members of the community. These included families from surrounding villages, assembly members, and volunteer distributors.
Overall, SALT distributed over 16 tonnes of maize flour under the Cyclone Freddy response.
Our response’s focus soon shifted to rebuilding when camps were closed to allow students to return to school. SALT constructed new homes for 14 families and assisted 3 families with partial rebuilds as they had other parts of the structures intact.
In the rural areas, many houses are made with mud bricks and some use only mud for mortar, making them particularly susceptible to extreme weather conditions. Though the rebuilding work faced significant challenges such as soaring prices of cement and building materials, we are thankful that families were assisted with safe and secure lodging.
Enelesi, is a single mother of two from Lisao camp. She had this to say when SALT constructed a new home for her: “I never expected that I could have this home. I would ask myself while I was at the camp, I’m single… How will I find a home? Will I afford a home – even a thatch one?… I’m really thankful.”
Though not all families lost their homes in the storm, many families lost their crops. SALT purchased maize to cater to ongoing food insecurity caused by Cyclone Freddy. SALT purchased 12 tonnes of maize to assist with responding to these needs.
Above all, we are grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate the love of God and share the Word at one of the most unprecedented times for Malawi. Through the response, new connections have been formed. Even those we may not have a chance to meet again were left with God’s Word – a gift that will remain with them.
“The great part…” shared Brother Harold, “is that we were able to visit as many people as possible and preach the gospel in an environment where the hearts are so ready to receive the gospel… I was greatly encouraged that as an organisation, we’re able to identify these needs and be able to carry on and touch the lives of people physically and spiritually.”
The Headteacher of Nanjiri School which was sheltering displaced families also echoed these sentiments when the team visited the camp. “I’ve seen a difference compared to how others come to help…” He said. “Today, we’ve received both kinds of help… physical and spiritual… I don’t know what moved him (brother Goodson), but I believe it was the Holy Spirit that led him to get up and come…”
Malawi was hit with a record-breaking natural disaster, which led to loss of lives, homes and livelihoods. Many were left wondering if and how they would move forward from such a crisis. SALT responded to immediate needs while seeking to support future needs through rebuilding homes and food assistance. We are thankful to all who supported this response and made it possible to give not only practical help but also a message of hope at such a desperate time.
Brother Harold and sister Anna caught up with brother Yamikani Issa from Liwonde, who has been distributing literature since 2015. Below is what he had to say about what motivates him to distribute gospel literature. (Note: the answers have been lightly edited to improve clarity.)
