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Malawi African Missions - September 21, 2002

Submitted by Jim Mattison,

Guthrie Grove Church of God, Pelzer, South Carolina

Margaret Sakala, coordinator for the African Churches of God of the Abrahamic Faith, wrote in July, "We are fine in Malawi. The work as well. There is a big progress. The work is growing. We have now reached the central region of Malawi. In our country we have 3 regions. We are in the southern.

"The kingdom message is going and reaching people faster. All this because our copartners there are trying their best to give finances for printing the Chichewa tracts, tracts which are distributed in streets, markets, door to door, as our Lord Messiah commanded us to go."

In another July letter she wrote, "I have been receiving many people at my house through the tracts. It's true there are two ways of reaching people: Preaching and through giving the tracts. Tomorrow, 7th July I will be in Chiradzulu District where I am invited to speak at another church of Blood of Jesus. They came searching me at Milonde (her home) through the tract address. They were given that tract by one of our pastors Ken Zebulun from Tyholo." Comment: 42,000 tracts on major Bible salvation teachings have now been printed and are being distributed by our faithful pastors and members.

In that same letter: "Tomorrow 8th the work of making bricks will start at Bvumbwe. 5 of our churches around will be there helping their friends. I will help buying wood for the burning (firing of the brick). I am planning of building the church before the year end.

"One of our choir member went to Blantyre to seek a job. In the location he is lending a house he found a group of people under Church of Christ. So this young man introduced himself to them, our faith and belief in the Kingdom. After that they were interested and wanted to see me. Without delay, they came and had prayers with us on 30th June at Milonde (headquarters church). They are nice people and eager to know the truth. You can see how the work is growing and God is opening doors."

From her letter 1st August, 2002: "My visit to Molumbu Mozambique was a success. Five churches (formerly Assemblies of God) gathered at our workers church served by Pastor Mateous Napwapwa. We went through various teachings of the truth of the Bible. From Villa Milange the town is 117 km (73 miles). All the way we saw Jehovah's Witnesses churches. How about us? We have to do the same to promote our faith We need to build a big church there on the main road for easy visitation"probably for a conference, as at Bvumbwe.

Another of our new pastors is Dyton Walusa.. (Five other new pastors were baptized at the close of our Milonde June conference.) I do not know how many pastors we have. Margaret has given me a list of 32 pastors and the names of their churches who attended the conference at Milonde, and another 9 who attended at Phalula Balaka. We counted around thirty pastors at the Mozambique conference. It is difficult for me to keep up with the number of churches. As nearly as I can count there are around 80. (In 1994 there were 20.)

Besides being a fervent evangelist Margaret visits the churches on her motorbike, usually accompanied by Pastors Goodson Mijeri, Rabson Namaona, Daud Chiwaya, and Maxwell Henderson or others. She told me she fasted and prayed three days in August.

Several have asked me about the present food shortage and famine in Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, and Swaziland, and if our people are suffering. In phone calls with Margaret we asked her that question. Her answer was that though they have no maize (their mainstay), they are crushing and eating the cassava root, which looks like and tastes (to me) like chalk. They raise this bush in their fields. When we were there this past June they also had tomatoes, cabbage, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, bananas, and pineapple. Margaret herself has several bags of corn she did not sell.

Though our church people do not seem to be suffering, there are severe famine conditions in these five African countries. Thanks to our good friend and co-worker, Bob Gilbert, we were able to get several sources on the internet that gave the facts and figures on this famine area. (Try www.allafrica.com/malawi.) The UN Regional Information Networks posted: "The number of people at risk in Malawi's food shortage has soared this month from 500,000 to 2.1 million, the World Food Program warned." Some good news: The Canadian government has allocated money to rebuild the Nacali railway line, the only direct rail link between Mozambique and landlocked Malawi. This will make it easier to transport food. Sixty trucks from the Norwegian Red Cross are also transporting food to Malawi. AllAfrica.com reports on Sept. 9: "Malawi's food shortages could worsen as it is likely that the winter harvest will fall short of expectations" Catholic Relief Services has said that "quiet desperation was setting in in parts of Malawi, where villagers have resorted to eating grass in a bid to stave off hunger." But Margaret tells us this is not true among our people. Malawi had surplus maize two years ago, but the new Agricultural Minister, Leonard Magulama, sold the surplus to Kenya, despite warnings of an impending food crisis. (We understand he is on trial now.) From the first of the year, maize has been rationed at the depot in Limbe, where thousands of people have been fighting for maizeMalawi News, Jan. 19-25, 2002. One subhead reads: Depot employees accused of selling maize at night.

Anthony and Don Smith made a trip into Tanzania to visit a contact from Anthony's radio programs. We understand this man is the son of the King, and has a network of 12,000 people in his church. Anthony reported that they believe like we do. This is wonderful news. How the word of the Kingdom is spreading!

We are so thankful to all of you mission-hearted brothers and sisters who have sent money to help build churches, buy land, metal roofs, bicycles for pastors, and pay for the 42,000 tracts. Here are two stories that touch our hearts:

During the Guthrie Grove Bible School (theme: Climb Up Faith MountainHebrews 11) a side project was: this little mountain guide was trying to climb up the cardboard mountain with the sign on top "$250." The idea was for the children to bring their pennies and nickels each night to see if they could help build a church in Africa. It was touching to see them come each night with their small change. Each night the little man climbed higher. The last night he went over the top--$295.87. A contractor heard of the project and offered to match what they brought. He gave a check for $400. One seven-year-old boy, Luke Elwell, told his mother he wanted to give some of his money to help the little man climb the mountain. His mother said that was good, how much did he want to give. He said, "$10." She said, "But you only have $15." He said, "I want to make a deal. I'll give $10 if you give $10. She laughed and gave him her $10, and he brought both to Bible school that night.

Steve Riddle, member of our Bethel church, thought of "Pennies From Heaven" as a way to help the African Mission work. The idea, each member give 3 pennies a day. The whole church got into it. Several men spoke of this to their co-workers at their jobs. One man gave three cans of pennies. Steve and his wife were eating out at a restaurant. Steve mentioned this project to a man at the next table. This stranger said he wanted to help and gave Steve $10. At the recent Bethel/Guthrie Grove Hymn Sing, during the time for praises to God, Steve got up and told about "Pennies From Heaven," and said he had a check for $700 for African Missions. Everyone was elated.

We appreciate this. Several churches have the bricks already made and fired and are ready to start building. This will help so much. Nine churches need repair. Several pastors need bicycles. It seems when needs arise, they are always met and we praise God for that.

This is a good work. The gospel of the Kingdom of God and the things about Christ are going forth by preaching and tracts throughout this whole area. Many are believing and being baptized. We believe the African Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith is larger than ours here in America. These people are so receptive. And they love the Truth. It is such a joy to teach them the major doctrines of the Bible. And we love them so. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We will be in the Kingdom together!

May God's wonderful salvation message go into all of Africa before the end comes.

Love in Christ,

Jim Mattison