News

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.

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.

Thanks for all your prayers.

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. 

We praise God for a very profitable Bible Conference. Over 50 of our literature distribution volunteers came for a week of teaching – some from as far as Mozambique. Many more would have come, but we were constrained by lack of accommodation, and the need to help almost all with their travel expenses.

Many of the brothers who attended commented how they had been so greatly helped by the teaching from 1 Corinthians. Many had never had the opportunity to listen to consecutive Bible teaching before.

Please pray for lasting benefit in the lives of those who came.

We praise the Lord for a very enjoyable and profitable week of teaching at our 2024 Bible Conference.

After an unavoidable hiatus due to Covid and cyclones, it was wonderful to host over 50 of our volunteer literature distributors for a week in the Word of God.

We took the entire letter of 1Corinthians as our subject for the week. This ensured that we focussed on the major themes and really important lessons of the book. It also helped the brothers see how a complete Bible book is a consistent whole.

We had to restrict the number of attendees due to our current space limitations. Nevertheless, some brothers came from Mulanje and Nsanje in the South, and a few from Lilongwe in the Central Region. At least one brother even came from neighbouring Mozambique! Many commented that they had never had the privilege to attend such a Bible Conference before. Based upon the written feedback they gave, many were learning fundamental Bible truth and principles for Christian living and Church life, for the first time. It was thrilling to see their rapt attention during the teaching sessions, and their engagement during the group study workshops. As usual, the Q & A sessions provided abundant teaching opportunities too!

During one of the breaks near the end of the conference, Anna gave a short presentation to introduce Nthawi Ya Baibulo, the children’s Bible study curriculum which we are translating. I was encouraged to see a healthy interest among a number of the brothers already engaged in children’s work. Hopefully, this will be a real help to them in reaching the young people in their areas.

Next Bible Conference, God willing?

We have already begun to think about when our next Bible Conference will be. We have only been able to reach a small percentage (less than 1/5) of the volunteers we regularly supply with literature. It is impractical to reach them all in their own areas, and impossible for us to host them all at Saidi, at present. So, we have a real dilemma. Do we invite a fresh cohort of 50 so that we reach more individuals? Or, do we invite the same group back in order to build upon what they have just learned? Please pray that we will have wisdom to make that decision.

Please also pray that, if it is His will, the Lord will enable us to build suitable accommodation to facilitate more conferences, and to host more people. This would truly be an enormous blessing for the work.

Teaching Session
Boys will be boys!
Workshop Session
Hand-washing before lunch
ScreeWorkshop in one of the Summer Hutsnshot
Q & A
Teaching Session
Some of the Brothers
Group Photo
Workshop Group

Pray

Please pray as Bros Stephen and Mark travel to Malawi this week in anticipation of the Bible Teaching conference at Saidi, commencing on 29 April, God willing.

This will be the first conference to take place since before Covid, and we are earnestly seeking blessing as a result.

Cancel icon png sticker illustration

We have reluctantly decided to cancel the Bible Teaching conference planned for May. The relief effort following Cyclone Freddy is going to demand so much of our time and resources that it will be impractical to proceed. Besides, many of those we were expecting to attend have been affected by Freddy too, and simply won’t have the means to travel.

As we have already bought air tickets for the speakers (David Williamson, Jim McMaster and me), we have decided that we will instead use the time for relief and Gospel work among the cyclone victims we have begun to help. Please pray that this will prove to be a good decision.

We are disappointed that we’ve had to make this decision. This is the 5th consecutive year our annual teaching program has been interrupted – twice due to a Presidential election, twice due to Covid, and now this dreadful disaster.

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