News

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a conference hosted by Bible Educational Services (BES) in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. It was tremendously encouraging and energizing to connect with people from all over the world who are involved in similar ministries.

Perhaps one of the most impactful things was meeting the woman who started it all! To think that it started with one woman posting lessons to one student and now today the curriculum is being used in over 80 countries and in 45 languages! Wendy Gray and her husband, Bert, and another older couple who have been involved in children’s work for decades, Stephen and Jean Gillham were both an inspiration and a challenge to me. Results are not often seen immediately in children’s work, but these couples reminded me that preserving and trusting the Lord to bless will result in fruit for His glory!

Results are not often seen immediately in children’s work, but these couples reminded me that preserving and trusting the Lord to bless will result in fruit for His glory!

Left to right: Wendy Gray and her husband, Bert, stand with Stephen and Jean Gillham (Image credit: Bible Educational Services)

I was also encouraged by the testimony of several of the delegates who were saved as children. One was taught the word of God while he was a child at a Sunday school. Though not from a Christian background, what he had learned as a child stuck with him and was used to bring him to salvation as a young adult. Another woman, also not from a Christian background, came to know about the Lord through children’s work, eventually accepting Christ at a Bible camp. These testimonies were a reminder of the importance of sharing the gospel with children and have bolstered my faith as I pray for God’s word to do a work in the hearts of the children we have come to know and love here in Malawi. Let us pray that this will indeed be the case!

Another takeaway was the importance of working with others. This is not a work that can be done single-handedly! Sessions on cooperation with coworkers got me thinking about how we can partner well with others to reach as many children as possible. It is something that needs much prayer and consideration. We want the work to be sustainable, i.e. not dependent on us. Please pray that the Lord will give clear direction from the start as to how we can best partner with others in a way that encourages this.

…more than ever we need to be in prayer for the Lord’s direction and blessing.

Overall, I was inspired and revitalized by spending a week in the presence of so many men and women who are giving their lives for the sake of sharing the gospel with children. What a privilege we have to tell the next generation about our God and Savior! What a responsibility! As we anticipate the launch of Bibletime in Malawi and look forward to training and distributing to others – more than ever we need to be in prayer for the Lord’s direction and blessing. It is, after all, His work, and He knows best how it should be done. Please pray with us that we will have a clear sense of His purposes for us and this resource in the coming months, so it can be used to reach thousands – perhaps millions – of children in this country who desperately need a Savior.

Pray

Saulous Chilima, Vice President of Malawi has died in a plane crash in the northern part of the country.

As well as praying for his family at this difficult time of personal loss, also pray for political stability. Relations between the President and Vice-President have been strained, and any speculation about the cause of the accident could be destabilising.

Remember the families of the other victims of the crash.

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.  

Harold (L) stands with the headteacher (R) and students after distributing gospel calendars and exercise books

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.

Malawi Gospel Outreach (MGO) team perform the parable of the lost son for students

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.

Anna and Harold speak to secondary school students

“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.

—

Learn more about children and youth ministry

Are you from North America and interested in supporting the work in schools? Learn more here.

Harold explains why he’s so enthusiastic about MGO – it has opened so many doors

Recorded October 2023

Transcript

2023 MGO was just like any other MGO – special in such a way that MGO’s are always different but this time we think of the MGO that was with the few people that participated and we were just thinking of how I was going to try and do what we have been doing in the past with the the few of us

But like Gideon we were able to see that the Lord is not very much interested in the numbers but the commitment and the trust that we have in him

He is able to do [the same that] he can do with many people with a few people

And so 2023 MGO was such a great encouragement to to me because we saw the Lord did a lot through a few people who were committed to do the job

I was encouraged with the order we have seen especially when it came to the kids the Children’s Day there was good order and it was such an encouragement to see lots of children sitting under the Word of God and listening attentively

I think the Lord gave much help and so I was really encouraged to see that many children

MGO is a vehicle which has opened so many doors when it comes to service to the Lord we just pray that the Lord will continue to not just open these doors but we take time to fully utilize those doors

There are school programs that have been opened because of MGO

There are hospital visits and time of gospel in the hospitals that was opened because of MGO also prisons such an important place to be to preach the gospel to prisoners

The Lord through MGO has been able to open so many doors

And we pray that the Lord will help us to fully take advantage of spreading the gospel strategically in these places

Read More

I’ve had the audiobook version of The Boy who Harnessed the Wind on my Audible playlist for a long time. I eventually got around to listening to it recently on a solo road trip. I instantly wished I’d done so earlier.

The Boy who Harnessed the Wind is not a Christian book, but it is an entertaining and enlightening read (listen!!). It’s the story of William Kamkwamba, who like so many Malawian boys, had to drop out of school. Nevertheless, against all odds, he managed to teach himself to build a wind turbine and light his village home. It provides an excellent insight into Malawian culture (especially the Chewa people) and the cruel hardships of village life. Although I’m sure the narrator is not himself Malawian, the African accent added much to my enjoyment of the book. For that reason, I do recommend the audio version.

A lot of things resonated after more than 20 years’ experience of The Warm Heart of Africa. I learned a few things too! It was especially poignant as most of the serious action took place around the time we first arrived in the country. The book recounts the serious famine of late 2001, the aftermath of which we remember vividly. The Boy who Harnessed the Wind is mostly set in Kasungu district (Central Region), which I don’t know as well as the South, but I got a very pleasant surprise in the penultimate chapter when a dear personal friend from our days in Zomba was mentioned in dispatches!

I’m providing these links for your convenience – I don’t get any commission 🙂

Goodson explains how the building works at Saidi have already been so helpful. He asks brothers and sister to pray about the future needs of the Building project

Recorded October 2023

Transcript

For all the buildings here it’s encouraged me because right now we have a printing room an office now we have our stores so you’ll see the container there and also we have the Msasa

So all these houses [are] help[ing] us

People they need to pray for us because we have so many works here we are looking for the gospel hall that we plan to start the building I’m not sure if we can start this year but we plan to start the gospel hall

So people they need to pray about this myself I cannot do anything myself so I believe in the fellowship If we can work together we can manage to do something

So everyone who have a chance to help and work of the Lord here in Malawi It is a good time to take part

And I pray for other brothers and sisters who was not here in Malawi even other countries remember Malawi sometimes when you are gathered together to pray

Read More

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.    

Responses on one of the conference feedback forms

Enlightened 

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 

Encouraged 

Brother Mark teaches during the conference

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 

Empowered 

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 

Anna presents the Nthawi Ya Baibulo resources

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 

Costly, but free 

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. 

Anna shares progress on the Bible Time Chichewa Translation Project

Recorded October 2023

Transcript

We’re continuing with translation and revision of the Bible time curriculum and we’ve just about completed the first year. We need to do some revisions now. We’ve been testing it out with the kids here and found some activities work some don’t.

We’re also about halfway through the second year’s worth of material.

There’s still some things that need to be tweaked and adjusted but overall I see it has a lot of potential for use in teaching children the gospel.

So I think it’s a good tool that can be really useful in reaching children throughout Malawi.

Pray for continued help with the translation and revision and just wisdom and direction to know how to take this area of the work forward.

Read More

ENLIGHTEN | ENCOURAGE | EMPOWER

Our Mission OrDonate