Mission Touching Malawi
Malawi is a landlocked nation in southeastern Africa that is among the poorest in the world. With 4 years of drought and 43% of the maize crop lost in southern areas of Mozambique and Malawi, hundreds of thousands of people are often without food. The U.N. has appealed for $88 million in aid to Malawi where 4.2 million people face growing food shortages due to drought (2005: UN World Food Program). To make matters worse, Malawi, with 11 million people is a country at the center of the aids crisis, where many are infected and many have already died, leaving a near nation of orphans.
ACF has been involved in ministry to Malawi for approximately 6 years, beginning with the support of Good News Outreach, the mission organization of Skip and Gwen Sanders. They sponsor an Orphan Care Center in the Lower Shire region, and various other help ministries throughout the southern half of the nation. As we began to support this important work, it became evident that ACF needed a firsthand view of the needs and ministry opportunity there. Pastor Rick went to Malawi first in February of 2005 along with the Sanders to assist their work, and to assess our future role there.
As we spent time in orphanage situations, and with local churches and pastors groups, a vision was developed for a three pronged ministry direction there. Aided on a second visit with Pastor John Eastwood of Calvary Chapel Southbury, CT, several pastor's conferences were held with overwhelming responses. Our three pronged ministry is evolving in this way:
1. Training for bush pastors. As go the leaders, so goes the nation. The church must build up leaders in character and biblical understanding. We are committed to connecting with the local leaders to assist and encourage them. Part of this training includes a local pastor who teaches proper understanding of the AIDS virus. This is sorely needed information that is not commonly communicated to the church leaders.
2. Bibles for pastors. Most of the bush pastors do not own an entire bible. Rather, they share portions of scripture, and sometimes only tracts from whcih they teach. We have given nearly 1000 bibles to pastors already in Southern Malawi and Mozambique.
3. Sponsoring "One village at a time". We are seeking to give physical aid in food and other resources to villages with which we can develop ongoing relationships; to help the people go beyond the daily crisis for food and medical care. This includes the creation of the Beth-el Feeding Center in the Lower Shire area (about 40 miles south of the Good News Orphan Care Center, in Bangula). This center provides two healthy meals per day, basic hygiene and medicine, and teaching of Bible and general reading to orphans who are living with extended families in the region.
You may wish to view the video from the 2005 drought and ensuing food shortage to gain insight into the depth of the situation:
Click Here to View Video
How you can help ACF and CC Southbury minister in Malawi and Mozambique: First and foremost, PRAY! Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing". We realize only He can make our efforts count as they should. These are the practical ways to assist as you may sense God leading:
1. Bibles for Pastors: For about $7/bible, you can help us get bibles to the 10,000 Bible-less pastors in Malawian villages. When you give a bible to a pastor, you are giving a bible to an entire village.
2. One village at a time: Any amount designated to aid the villages with food, medical, or learning tools will go directly to such needs. The monthly cost to care for between 50-100 children is about $1000. Donations notated to "Feeding Center" will be used to assist and expand this work.
3. Pastor's Conferences and general needs: It is expensive to go to Malawi, and we have to provide transportation, food, and housing when we gather pastors. But consider this: For less than $2000 we were able to bring together 320 pastors for a 3 day conference. That is a cost of $6.25 per pastor!! Most of these pastors had never been taught "thru the word" teaching, or received basic biblical doctrinal instruction.
It is an extreme joy for Pastor Rick and Pastor John to be able to tell these wonderful people who truly love God, "We aren't here in the name of an organization, or here to bring you under our dominion, but we are here to assist you in the name of Jesus Christ." Jesus said, "Freely you have received. Freely give." May God give us all his heart and wisdom as we seek him for the needs of our brothers and sisters in Malawi and Mozambique.
Also check out our partner website at www.calvarysouthbury.com
Questions and comments may be addressed to: acf@nycap.rr.com
Donations may be sent to ACF PO BOX 1143, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Malawi Update
August, 2008
Our A Fruitful Trip!
Our team trip to Malawi in July and August is over and our team was awesome in their work to nurture children and model for the leaders and helpers. We are very encouraged that the seeds that were planted in the hearts of many will bear much fruit! Jesus said in the parable of the sower that even the seed on good soil would bring back a variety of multiplied harvest; “some thirty, some sixty and some a hundred fold.” The only way to know with certainty the result, is to not sow the seed at all. Then you are guaranteed a zero harvest! Thankfully, we left as much as possible planted in the Lower Shire River Valley.
Thank you so much, you who have been giving and praying and loving the people of Malawi with us! We felt and saw the effects of your prayers! The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church that he would not go beyond the boundaries God had established for him to minister. We have seen how over five years of ministry God has enlarged our boundaries and our ability to minister deeply into the Christian culture in Malawi. The willingness of the leaders to join with us in ministering and setting boundaries for how to minister to children was overwhelming, and needed. Our next team visit working with children will include partnering with the local leaders, rather than doing the ministry for them.
This approach both shows the proper respect for their ability to minister and encourages mutual responsibility to develop ministry. Additionally, we are examining ways to encourage self sufficiency through the development of animal husbandry in the region through partnering with the local church. Stay tuned to see this aspect of partnership develop.
Be sure to check the video, pictures, and sharing on this website concerning the trip. And God bless you as you serve Him unashamedly with all your heart.
Rick Cohen
Pastor John Eastwood and Bangula Pastors
Pastor Ephram Disi
Bibles for Pastors
Bibles for Pastors
Bus Ride to Conference
Lunch Line
Music Group
Conference