When food is scarce, a bag of maize is not a small gift. It may mean meals for a household and strength for the days ahead. That is what makes a recent account from Balaka so sobering. It is a story of Christian faith during hunger, and of the cost some believers are prepared to bear for the hope they confess.
Drought and an empty harvest
Harold recently told us about a brother, Gama, he has known for many years. Earlier in the year, Harold visited him in Balaka and supplied him with Christian literature. The area had been badly affected by prolonged drought, and the brother’s household had harvested little or nothing. Hunger was immediate and real.
Around that time, a group of Muslims arrived with bags of maize for local people. At first, those gathered were told that the distribution was open to everyone, including Christians. Many came because they genuinely needed food.
A public test of Christian faith during hunger
During the distribution, the Christians present were asked to identify themselves and to say whether they believed that Jesus Christ died and rose again. Many raised their hands. Then came a devastating choice: those who continued to confess that hope would not receive maize.
Brother Gama testified, “The death and the resurrection of Christ is my hope. If Christ did not die and rise from the dead, I would have been hopeless. But now I have hope, and my hope is fully in Him.”
As Brother Gama stood firm, several others joined him. They all left with nothing while others lowered their hands and remained to receive food.
A real price to pay
It is easy to admire courage from a distance. It is harder to imagine returning home hungry after food was placed within reach. The dear brother’s confession of Christ carried an immediate, practical cost.
His stand also confronts us with a question. When believers face hardship because of their Christian confession, how will we respond? Faithfulness should not be romanticised while real physical need is ignored.
Please pray
- Pray for this brother and the other believers who left the distribution without food.
- Pray for families across Balaka whose harvests have been damaged by prolonged drought.
- Pray for wisdom as Harold and the SALT team identify genuine needs and provide targeted help.
- Pray that Christian compassion will be offered without coercion and will point clearly to the grace of Christ.
- Pray that believers facing pressure will be strengthened to remain faithful.
Standing with those who stand for Christ
The brother’s testimony is simple and searching: his hope is in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hunger made that confession costly, but it did not take his hope away.
Please remember him and the other believers in prayer. If you would like to support SALT’s gospel and care ministries in Malawi, visit https://saltrust.org/how-to-support-salt/ to learn more.