News

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.

April and May have been hugely significant months.

After much anticipation, we came together for a time of fellowship, prayer, team-building and planning. Following several challenging years, this gave us an opportunity to reflect on the past and renew future plans. The investment of time yielded much more than expected, and we thank the Lord for graciously giving us the opportunity.

Sharing about the work

Immediately after the trustees’ workshop, we had a series of 4 “Open Days” in different locations around the UK. Although attendance was modest, all who came agreed that these provided invaluable opportunities to meet the frontline workers, and learn about the work.

From our point of view, Anna and Harold, representing the team in Malawi, both remarked how encouraging it was to meet some of those who support the work practically and in prayer. We will definitely consider running more Open Days in other locations, Lord willing. (We did note with sadness how few younger people seem to have an interest in the Lord’s work! A cause for concern, and much prayer.)

This was Harold’s first time out of Africa. Although somewhat hampered by a heavy Irish cold, he still enjoyed the fellowship of believers and seeing a very different part of the world. For him, a big highlight was visiting the David Livingstone birthplace in Blantyre (Scotland), after which his hometown is named. Anna enjoyed some hiking in Scotland, the land of (some of) her ancestors and a weekend in England where her dad was speaking at the Bicester conference.

NYB Training Videos

While in N. Ireland, Harold spent a day recording Chichewa training videos for Nthawi ya Baibulo (Bibletime) teachers. We hope this will make it possible to multiply the reach of NYB without proportionately multiplying the work involved. We were so grateful that the Lord gave Harold the health and strength required.

2025 Annual Conference a great blessing

We are so thankful that Harold’s cold and cough cleared up in time for our 2025 Annual Conference. Particularly as the conference had been extended to include a second week of teaching. His role as translator for the visiting speakers is a vital one, for which the Lord has really gifted him. (But that’s another story!)

Over the two weeks, we were joined by a total of around 100 brothers from various parts Malawi. Some came from as far as Mzuzu (Northern Region), a distance of around 700Km. At least one brother came from Mozambique. Economic conditions in Malawi are so difficult we had to help cover almost all the attendees’ travel expenses. As you can imagine, this amounted to quite a considerable sum.

Sadly, accommodation constraints meant that we had to send around 25 brothers home at the end of the first week. This meant we could invite another 25 to come for the second. The place we rented last year was unavailable, and we had to block book a rest-house at Thondwe trading centre, a 2Km walk away. The standard, frankly, wasn’t great, and some unseasonal heavy rain made this even more challenging. Some slept on the floor of our print-room floor, or the literature storage container.

Crucially important teaching

Notwithstanding the logistical challenges, we had a really wonderful time. During the first week, we made a systematic study of 1 Timothy. We touched many essential topics for those present in their work of evangelism and teaching others. Most have no other opportunity to hear clear teaching of the scriptures. Therefore, the messages on the charge for faithfulness in Christian service, identifying false teachers, the respective roles of brothers and sisters, and the characteristics of godly leadership, were of crucial importance.

During the second (shorter) week, we had 6 sessions aimed at giving a basic dispensational understanding of the Bible. At times, it was almost possible to see the lights coming on in the believers’ minds. They were learning for the first time how the Old and New Testaments fit together in God’s one unified plan. Many had no idea how to reconcile Law and Grace, OT Temple worship and NT worship in the Spirit, or circumcision vs baptism. Some did not properly understand the significance of gathering on the Lord’s Day instead rather than the Sabbath. One evening, Harold said excitedly, “We may get a surprise, brother, when we discover what the Lord has accomplished this week.”

Please pray that it may be so.

The encouragement of the conference reinforced the vision of the workshop. We face the months ahead with renewed commitment. We look to the Lord to bless his work. May he save souls, strengthen believers, and establish still more testimonies for his glory and the blessing of others.

Abale, pempherani ife. Brethren, pray for us.

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
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 Saidi
Children using the NYB Materials
Teaching with NYB
Training Session

Although it was a great success on many levels, we felt our recent Conference did not reach its full potential. This was due to our inability to provide sleeping accommodation on-site for more than a handful of those attending.

We had to squeeze most of the 100 or so who came into a rest-house we had block-booked for the purpose. The standard wasn’t great, and they had to walk 2Km each way for meals and the meetings. Renting the rest-house was a further expense for us (in addition to the help given with travelling expenses). It was also a considerable inconvenience for those attending the conference.

Furthermore, we couldn’t use the evenings together as the brothers had to return to their lodgings before dark (around 6pm). Equally important, we could not invite their wives which is a severe long-term limitation to the development of the work.

Increased Priority

The Msasa is great for children’s work and various other activities, but not really suitable for this purpose. Nor is it particulary suitable for the assembly which has been planted since it was built. Accordingly, although we had been considering building a more suitable meeting place, the need for dormitory accommodation is now clearly the priority.

Therefore, as the Lord provides, over the next year, we would like to build 2 simple, 40 bed hostels. This will give us the capacity to accommodate about 80% of the people who attended this year’s conference. If we are able, we would like to double that capacity the following year. This is still less than half the number we would like to invite but will be pushing the Msasa to the limit of its capacity.

Modifications to the Msasa

In the meantime, we will still need to make some modifications to the Msasa. Presently it is completely open and gets cold and windy in the winter months. The openings have been covered with mpasa – grass bedding mats – to give some shade, and reduce the wind. However, recently it has also become noisy with the proliferation of motorcycle taxis on the adjacent road . When the Lord makes it possible for us to build a larger meeting place, then we will consider adding further dormitory accommodation.

Please pray for this important project. It will involve considerable outlay and a step of faith for us. Nevertheless, we see it as a real long-term investment in the work. If you would like to support this initiative financially, please feel free to contact us for further information.

View the project page here.

Here’s a small selection of some of the singing from our 2025 Conference – there were a lot of joyful moments but sadly the recording doesn’t really do it justice.

photo of people doing handshakes

As we look ahead to the future of SALT, we are excited to gather for our Trustee Planning and Development Workshop at Roe Park Resort. This strategic event will bring together UK Trustees, key volunteers, and, hopefully, one or two representatives from the Malawi Board. This workshop will serve as a crucial time of reflection, planning, and collaboration as we chart the path for the next phase of the work.

Workshop Overview

The workshop will span several days, filled with prayer, discussions, and strategic planning sessions. The agenda is designed to assess our progress, refine our vision, and strengthen our governance structure. Key topics include:

  • Reviewing our progress – A comprehensive report from Malawi representatives will highlight successes, challenges, and the road ahead.
  • Strategic Vision for the Next Five Years – Through analysis and group discussions, we will determine where to focus our efforts, who we need to reach, and how to measure impact.
  • Strengthening Team Collaboration – We will explore ways to enhance teamwork, streamline internal and external processes, and apply Lean management principles for better efficiency.
  • Governance and Financial Oversight – Sessions on board effectiveness, financial accountability, and risk management will ensure we continue to operate with integrity and excellence.
  • Empowering SALT Malawi – Succession planning, leadership development, and training needs will be key discussion points.
  • Reflection and Moving Forward – As the workshop concludes, we will consolidate our learnings and set clear priorities for the coming year.

Why This Matters

This gathering is more than just a series of meetings; it is an opportunity to renew our commitment to SALT’s mission and strengthen the bonds among our team members. With representatives from both the UK and Malawi, we aim to foster a shared vision that ensures long-term sustainability and effectiveness in our work.

We look forward to fruitful discussions, meaningful connections, and a renewed sense of purpose as we move forward together. Stay tuned for updates from the workshop! And please pray that the time will for the blessing of the work, and for the glory of God!

We are pleased to inform that we have added two venues to our itinerary. You now have four to choose from, so hopefully you will find one near you!

These events should be excellent opportunities to meet key representatives of the Lord’s work in Malawi. We believe you will be encouraged to learn what the Lord has been doing, and better informed as you continue in prayer for us.

Registration is essential to help us with planning. Please click here and choose the venue which suits you.

We are delighted to invite SALT supporters in Northern Ireland to either of our Open Nights, planned for 9th & 10th April in Limavady & Lisburn respectively.

Click here for further Details and Register for Limavady

Click here for further Details and Register for Lisburn

God willing, we are looking forward to Harold Makawa and Anna Vallance joining us from Malawi, as well as some of the other volunteers who work behind the scenes to make possible so many aspects of what SALT does.

This should be a great opportunity to meet the Trustees and hear first-hand updates from some of those working “on-the-ground”. We believe you will be encouraged to learn what the Lord has been doing, and will be enabled to pray more intelligently for the work and workers.

The evening will include:

  • Updates on ongoing projects and initiatives in Malawi
  • An introduction to the Trustees and key team members
  • A look ahead at future plans and developments
  • A short devotional message to encourage in the work of the Lord

These events are free to all, however we kindly ask you to help us with planning by registering for the even of your choice.

Click here for further Details and Register for Limavady

Click here for further Details and Register for Lisburn

If you aren’t in Northern Ireland and would be interested in an Open Day / Night near you – please get in touch!

Please remember to pray for various Christmas programs taking place over the next few days.

The children’s and teens’ programs have already taken place on Friday / Saturday past, but there will be another meeting at Saidi on Christmas Day.

These are great opportunities to preach the Gospel and to share a little practical love and encouragement for people going through a very difficult time in Malawi.

Children at Saidi
Children at Saidi
Children at Dzaleka
Children at Dzaleka
Children at Dzaleka
Children at Dzaleka
Children at Dzaleka
Children at Dzaleka
Children at Dzaleka

ENLIGHTEN | ENCOURAGE | EMPOWER

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