The work of revising and relaunching our Chichewa Emmaus Course offering is complete, and we are placing an initial order for 12,000 new booklets.
In future, we hope to keep costs down by printing most of these booklets in-house, however we simply don’t have the time and manpower to do that at present, so we are using a local printing company. Pray that they will complete the job in good time, and to a high standard.
There is a great appetite for these materials in Malawi. Please pray that the Lord will use them for the spiritual blessing of many.
The Word of God (John’s Gospel)The Servant of God (Mark’s Gospel)The Saviour of the Work (Luke’s Gospel)People who met the Lord JesusActs of the Apostles (Part 1)Acts of the Apostles (Part 2)RomansThe Lord’s Supper and BaptismOne God – One WayThe Christian LifeCan we know God?Christ loved the ChurchPeter and the ChurchWhat the Bible Teaches
Please pray for wisdom and guidance as we consider options to urgently replenish supplies of Nthawi ya Baibulo (Bibletime) which are already starting to run out.
We received around 60,000 booklets towards the end of last year, but the demand has been overwhelming as Anna has been carrying out leader training around the country. The quickest way to re-stock is by using a commercial printer in Malawi.
We’re pleased to share continued progress across several ministry areas throughout May. Here’s a summary of recent developments from our team in Malawi.
Children’s Ministry
Encouraging momentum continues in the Children’s Work. Over 200 children attend weekly Saturday and Sunday classes. A new book has been introduced, and school packs are being used to reward regular attendance and outstanding work. Anna has resumed travelling to distribute and train others in using Nthawi ya Baibulo (NYB)—a Gospel-focused Bible study resource for young people, designed to help them understand and apply the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Saidi Assembly: Baptisms Ahead
Several believers have requested baptism—a heartening indication of growing faith and commitment among the local assembly. Please keep them in prayer as they prepare to take this public step of obedience.
Translation and Publications
Our translation and publication efforts continue steadily. Gibson, our principal translator, has completed one more additional Emmaus Bible course and is now working on two more. Anna is revising and formatting previously developed courses in preparation for print. New tracts are currently in the design phase, and we’ve secured a designer to create updated covers for the Emmaus series.
We are excited to share a preview of some of the new Chichewa Emmaus Booklets we are about to publish.
Building Progress
Work on the perimeter wall has been completed. Meanwhile, construction of the new warehouse building has moved into the plastering phase—a significant step toward completion. We are waiting on roller shutter doors arriving from the UK for this and the Garage / Workshop which is also nearly finished.
Looking ahead, we are beginning preparations for a major new project: the construction of dormitory accommodation. This facility will greatly enhance our ability to host participants during next year’s Bible teaching conference. Planning and groundwork will take place over the coming months, and we value your prayers for this important development.
Vehicles Update
The Mitsubishi Canter truck has been returned to the premises. However, the ministry still requires an additional vehicle—not only to support our growing outreach efforts, but also to assist with transporting materials for the ongoing building projects, including the upcoming dormitory construction.
Security Update
A new security system has been installed and is now fully operational. It is specifically designed to monitor the guards’ hourly patrols and ensure they remain active throughout the night—helping prevent lapses in vigilance such as sleeping during duty hours. Following training, the guards have become confident in using the system, and it is delivering the intended results.
Conclusion
We remain deeply grateful for the Lord’s provision and the continued support of those who stand with us. Your prayers and generosity empower SALT to Enlighten, Encourage, and Empower lives through Gospel-centred ministry in Malawi.
Nthawi ya Baibulo Bibletime booklets are transforming children’s ministry in Malawi, where thousands of students are engaging with the Bible in their own language—Chichewa. With over 122,000 booklets delivered and more than 10,000 students already involved, 2025 is shaping up to be a significant year for Christian education in the region.
A Shortage of Biblical Resources in Chichewa
There is a growing demand in Malawi for biblical teaching materials for children—especially those written in the local language. The Bibletime series fills a gap where few other resources exist. Following the arrival of a large shipment of “A Series” booklets in late 2024, the materials have been widely distributed to churches, schools, and community groups.
Training and Distribution Across Malawi
NYB Training
Between January and March 2025, seven Bibletime training sessions were held across the Southern and Central regions of Malawi. A total of 165 teachers were trained, equipping them to use the booklets effectively in their local settings. An additional 17 training sessions are already scheduled, and interest continues to grow.
Currently, NYB Bibletime is being used in:
Over 100 churches from 43 different denominations
Five schools
Both urban and rural communities
The largest single recipient is the Evangelical Baptist Church of Malawi, which received over 1,200 booklets.
Encouraging Testimonies from the Field
“It was the first time they had learned there were different days of creation,” reported Levi, a teacher at a small private school. This basic truth was new to many of his students—a reflection of the lack of foundational Bible knowledge, even in traditionally Christian regions.
Clifford from CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian) shared a video of children joyfully working through the booklets. He said, “Look, the kids are really happy with the books and are learning their verses. Now many kids are able to learn the word of God.”
Looking Ahead: Bibletime in Local Schools
As schools resume in September 2025, we plan to introduce Bibletime into the schools we regularly visit. We are hoping to involved local believers from the assembly in this work. Meanwhile, we will also be engaged in:
Ongoing training and mentorship
Follow-up sessions for teachers and churches using A1–A6
Expansion into new communities and school partnerships
Challenges and Prayer Requests
The demand for Bibletime materials is increasing rapidly. While this growth is exciting, it also brings challenges. The team in Malawi is seeking to roll out the programme in a sustainable and orderly way. There is also a vision to see trained volunteers begin training others—a key step toward long-term sustainability.
Please pray for:
Wisdom and grace as new training requests come in
Sustainability of the growing network
Opportunities to reach more schools and churches with the gospel
Why NYB Bibletime Matters
Bibletime isn’t just another workbook. It is a strategic tool for biblical literacy, discipleship, and evangelism in Malawi. As more children engage with the Scriptures, the long-term spiritual impact could be significant—for families, communities, and future generations.
Want to learn more or get involved? Visit our Bibletime resource page or contact us to support this growing ministry.
NYB Training at SaidiChildren using the NYB MaterialsTeaching with NYBTraining Session
As Anna asks us to give thanks for “A very profitable and smooth conference” she also requests prayer “for the next few weeks, which will be pretty busy with training sessions. Pray for stamina, wisdom and guidance. Pray for the teachers to have hearts that are willing to learn. And, most of all, pray for the Nthawi ya Baibulo (Bibletime) books to be used to bring many to Christ.”
Note: There is great and growing interest in NYB across the country, but we are anxious that the resources be used wisely and carefully. Consequently, each prospective NYB group leader has to undergo training prior to receiving the materials. Read more here.
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:
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?
As we give thanks and rejoice in the Lord’s provision, please continue to pray for the last leg of the long process to purchase a new Toyota Landcruiser utility vehicle for benefit of the work in Malawi. The vehicle eventually arrived at the Malawi border late last week and the process of customs clearance and registration is now under way. Pray that these remaining formalities will go smoothly.
The work has been beset with vehicle maintenance and reliability issues, so we are deeply grateful to those who gave generously to enable us to purchase this vehicle. The Lord sees and recompenses such sacrifice.
Please also pray that the Lord will make the vehicle a blessing in the work, especially in the literature distribution ministry, where we expect it to be of great service.
Please pray for the safe and speedy transit of the first of 3 shipments expected to arrive before the end of the year (DV). This has just been sent. and contains a significant portion of our 2025 Gospel Calendars (around 500,000), 42 boxes of Gospels and around 50 boxes of prison hygiene packs.
Later this month a further consignment of Classroom packs, other practical items and literature from Everyday Publications will be sent from Toronto. We are grateful to MSC and ACCTS for the kind use of their shipping facility. The remainder of our calendars, Nthawi ya Baibulo (Bible Time) booklets and other Gospel literature should follow in the next month or two, Lord willing.
Please also pray that the Lord will richly bless this literature to the salvation of many souls.
Does network troubleshooting constitute “real missionary work”?
As always, it’s been a joy to be back in Malawi. Today is the midpoint of a short trip which has already proved to be extremely valuable. I often feel frustrated that so much of my time seems to taken up with admin and planning, and not the “real missionary work” of preaching and teaching. Then I remember that Paul wrote, “there are varieties of service, but the same Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:5) and how he often commended the tireless efforts of many who evidently laboured behind the scenes, whom he was happy to call “co-workers”.
Although my last visit was very much about the “real missionary work”, this visit has been more about necessary “behind the scenes” activity. We’ve spent a lot of time reviewing the conference in May, and how to add value to something which was evidently of great profit to many. We have also spent much time thinking about the much-anticipated launch of Nthawi Ya Baibulo (Bible Time), which gets closer with each passing week. There is already a lot of interest in NYB, and we want to make sure that we manage the roll-out carefully.
In addition to this, SALT has recently taken overall responsibility for the Emmaus work in Malawi. Although a phenomenally valuable teaching and discipleship resource, Emmaus has failed to reach its potential in Malawi due to the absence of a national coordinator for the past 7 or 8 years. Please pray for Anna who has accepted this responsibility on behalf of SALT, on top of her already-busy schedule.
Yesterday, we met with Gibson, our main literature translator. I’ve worked on and off with Gibson for many years, but he and Anna have done a fantastic job over these past 2-3 years, cooperating on the NYB translation. With less than one month’s work remaining (by his estimate) we are looking forward to letting him loose on some other important translation projects.
To be honest, although I do often feel frustrated that I’m unable to do as much of the real missionary work that I love, I am humbled, and sometimes rebuked when I think of all that the Lord has privileged me to be involved with here. The work has grown beyond recognition, and maintaining that necessarily involves a lot of tedious and “unrewarding” effort, which the Lord graciously blesses.
Mark has recently volunteered his experience
I’ve been very happy to be accompanied by Bro Mark Beach, who has recently volunteered his extensive experience in missionary literature work. Mark has been involved for many years in various aspects of Christian work, most recently leading Everday Publications Inc, highly regarded in assembly missionary circles for their helpful resources in “Everyday English”. He also brings his experience in accounting and bookkeeping, which has already lifted a great burden off my shoulders. I believe that with his help and your prayers, the work will go forward from strength to strength.
I shouldn’t forget that there was some “real missionary work” on Wednesday, when we had a visit at one of the prisons, around an hour’s drive from base. What a thrill as around 350 inmates sat attentively listening to the Word of God. Pray that the gifts of a hygiene pack left with each will be a blessing. Each pack contains a leaflet with a simple Gospel message. And, of course, I’m looking forward to being with the assembly at Saidi tomorrow, when doubtless I’ll have opportunity to share the Word of God with them.
