MALAWI NEWS
October 4, 1997
Dear Pastor,I trust this will find you and the church well and prospering in the Lord's work there. I will try and brief you about the work here. I will have more of a detailed report about the first of this coming week. I am now on break from the seminar. We completed 13 weeks yesterday, the pastors now have a bit over 600 hours in class work. They took their semi-final exam yesterday which consisted of 250 questions, which were based upon the five doctrines of Grace. On the 20th of this month they will return to write their final exam. That will cover everything we have taught from day one to yesterday.
One of the pastors from Liwonde, his name is Simayesi Sokonyera he has wanted to open (have a dedication) his church building. From last year when I went to baptize the group there and organize them into a church, from that time he wanted to have a dedication service. So now he wants all the other pastors to come with Loretta and I. We are to depart Blantyre with the 4 pastors and 3 deacons from this side on Saturday arrive there around 8 a.m. have a service on Saturday, then overnight and have a service on Sunday. All the pastors and deacons will be speaking at this time. Following services on Sunday, we will return with all the brethren back to Blantyre where they will overnight, and on Monday start to write their final exam. It will take them about two days, so by Wednesday morning they will depart back to their homes.
We have not covered any prophecy as of yet, so I told them I wanted them to come back for another session, after much discussion yesterday, we came to an agreement which was for them to take their break until the first of the year, and then return on the fifth of January which is the first Monday to start class. I told them to be prepared to spend another four weeks in class then we would have another final exam for that particular session. I told them that if they did not score with at least 60% they would have to take the lessons over again. So far I feel prepared to say that I believe they will all complete with satisfactory scores. We have a good group pastor, I feel good about these men, at least with what they have shown me thus far. Only time will reveal if they will remain faithful and commit unto others as they themselves have been taught.
There is one deacon from Luchenza, the one who came to substitute pastor J. Mwanyambo he came for a few weeks, but a week ago Sunday when we went to Luchenza to have services that day, I split up the pastors, some I left there at Luchenze to preach, and the other half I took with me to Mulanje to have services there as well. On the way home when I picked up those who I had left at Luchenza he told me that he was staying back because his wife and child was sick, I said OK, but when I arrived here at the house, I asked some of the others if there had been another problem as to why he did not return with us. Some of them felt that, he had other problems. Anyhow I am planning a trip out to Luchenza during my time off to speak with the church and pastor Mwanyambo about trying to vote for another man to interim as pastor, until at such time the Lord either restores Bro. Mwanyambo to the proper health to take care of the church, or else the Lord raises up another man to become pastor. At the moment, the attendance is quite low, from what it was before. These people have a tendency to depart and scatter out if there is no leader, but then again, isn't that true everywhere. Bro. Mwanyambo is not well at all, he spends most of his time in or on the bed, he can't walk on his own, and for a long time has not been able to attend the services.
We have developed a rather good working relationship with the pastors thus far, and they all understand our position here. Well if I tell you all the news now, I won't have any left for the report next week. I will be going to Thylolo tomorrow, the day will seem short compared to our usual Sundays with the pastors. Two weeks ago was probably my longest service at one session. We were at Tomosi way out in the bush, and we started services at 9:00 a.m. and finished at 1: 30 p.m. then had our meal and then drove two hours to return home. Can you just see asking the American people to sit through that, you can't even hardly get them to sit much longer than 30 minutes.
Give my regards to all there,
By His Mercy,
Peter
July 25, 1997
There are nine churches that have been organized. Eight of them are as follows: 1. Chamasowa Landmark Baptist Church. The pastor is Alec Chimala. He is our youngest pastor, but has a lot of potential and is teachable. He is attending the Seminar. The church is located 1 hour southeast from Blantyre within the tea estates at Thyolo (pronounced CHEE OLOW).2. Luchenza Landmark Baptist church is located 1 1/2 hours drive southeast from Blantyre. The pastor is Joseph Miyambo. He is our oldest pastor at 80 years old. He also is attending the seminar.
3. Mulanje Landmark Baptist church, located 2 hours southeast from Blantyre, and is at the foot of Mulanje mountain. The pastor is Jackson Kopolo. He also occupies the position of a village headman. He is attending the seminar.
4. Landmark Baptist Church located at Tomasi in Thyolo district. The pastor is Three Quarter Mkwanpa (Three Quarter is truly his first name!!!). He is attending the seminar. This church is located 1 1/2 hours southwest near Chikwawa.anje.
We have completed 300 hours (six weeks) in the seminar, and have six more weeks to go. There is a lot of potential with these pastors. They all seem dedicated and they all understand that we do not have a physical ministry here. We are purchasing Bibles and Song Books by the case to sell at 1/2 price to the churches. All the pastors agree and think this is a good idea. After the seminar is completed there will be
If I can answer any questions please leave me E-Mail. Check out our links to other Web Sites.
Other Web Pages
- Grace Landmark Baptist Mission
- Dave's Web Page Service
- Landmark Baptist Church Roseville
- House Of Representatives, USA
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