news from malawi
We are delighted to report the baptisms of Brothers LEONARD and ESHMAEL and Sisters CATHERINE, NADINE, ELIZABETH and TCHISOMO. May the Lord keep them in the way to His Kingdom. Some of these are from the Dzaleka refugee camp, others are the result of Brother Esau’s preaching to his former church; Esau is a Malawian baptized in Norway, as previously reported.
BUA
Time has passed without hearing any words of exhortation from you, both spiritual and physical. I am not even receiving the “Gospel News” or “Glad Tidings”. I enclose my new address so that I may receive the magazines. The circumstances of my living are always difficult to solve and I ask the question “Why does God allow sufferings?” Since my husband fell asleep in Christ you always give solutions to my difficult circumstances. I have been writing to you to assist me to solve this problem, through the amazing grace of God but there has been no reply from you.
My problem is that I am failing to manage to pay school fees for my two daughters who are now at secondary school level, where school fees are high. As you know, I earn my living through farming but due to lack of support for farm inputs, such as fertiliser, and enough labour to grow our country’s cash crop, I only manage to grow cassava and groundnuts for sale and maize for food, which is not enough for paying school fees. Because of my difficult situation I always pray to God to give me courage that I may not fall into temptations of evil doings, as 1 Tim.6:10 says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil.” I pray without ceasing that you may reply to my letter and enclose my new address Box 15, Bua, Via Kasungu, Malawi, my old Box has been closed.
Sis. Bertha Khonje
Comment: Now we have your new address I trust you will receive our letters. Hope some Sisters will write and encourage you.
DOWA
I thank you a lot for all the parcels you have sent me, although I was delayed in receiving them as I have been in hospital for two months with hypertension. My child was burnt while her mother was cooking food but she is now recovering as she has been treated for a week. I returned home from hospital but I am still sick. Although we have diseases which affect us from time to time we thank God that we have been able, with the help of the family and two other brothers, to make bricks to add to and rebuild our house which was burnt. Now its length is 11m and 4.5m wide. We now have a wide room for the church services.
I would like to inform you that we have received the promised parcel, and I called Bro Innocent, as you advised me to do. We opened the parcel together and shared the contents without any problem in my house.
Bro. John Abwe
Bro. John Abwe with friends and family rebuilding their house.
DZALEKA
Praise the Lord. I would like you to be aware that the baptism which we were waiting for for a long time took place on 14th Nov. 2010 at Salima. 6 brethren were baptized. Among them, 2 from Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Things went very well. Bro. Mleso assisted us for the transport that we were looking for. May God bless him. God bless.
Bro. Stanley Michael
Here in Dzaleka we are all fine. Thank you for the effort of sending Brethren George Mayimba and Austin Nyirenda to visit us. They planed to come again to interview the candidates of baptism.
Bro. Bernard Ikola
GONDA
Here at Gonda the work is going well, although we are living in the time of trouble and God fulfilling His promises. God will never fail us, but will help His chosen people to overcome the temptations, through prayer and Bible reading, by which our faith will be strengthened.
I am very happy to have received a parcel of Bible Basics and other material. Don’t forget us in your prayers, and when sending leaflets, magazines or letters: as Paul told the Thessalonians (1 Thess.2:1-7), he wrote them a letter of encouragement. So your letters, leaflets and magazines will communicate with brothers and sisters in England and all of us here, and we will be as one.
Bro. Robert Folley
JALI
Greetings in the Name of our Lord, who loves us all and gives us our day-to-day life with its needs.
But it’s sad to let you know that I’ve lost my Grandmother and her brother within a period of two weeks, and it was so hard, but I’ve accepted it because it’s part of life in this world, and all is in God’s plan.
One other thing, I’ve been a long time without contributing anything to the Gospel News – since last January. This is because I have found life hard since November 2009, when my wife started suffering, and she was ill for almost five months. Now she is getting better. At the same time I was jobless, which was another hardship, and a challenge as well, but through our Lord things are now changing, and I am asking brothers and sisters wherever they are to join me in prayers so that something can happen to help us.
Bro. Lucky Mbalale
KADEWERE
We are in the time here when the Gentiles are preparing for initiation ceremonies. Such practices usually take place along the river banks for the circumcisions – however we are in danger, especially our boy children, because they go there without permission from their parents.
As we all know, there is nothing we can get from such people, because we believe in Christ, our Master who is our law-giver. Some of them don’t believe in Christ, especially the Yao tribe, as well as Moslems, and they encourage young people to go for circumcision.
Jesus did not teach his disciples about circumcision, but under his new covenant, he only commanded the disciples to preach about the gospel of the Kingdom, and to baptize people who believe in his truth.
Bro. Kenneth Maganger
MZUZU
I am still trying to get a proper treatment for my son’s skin problems, and I thank you for your advice and help.
Here all things are just fine in the Lord. Problems are due to our customs, but when it comes to God’s work, it is still going well. We had been complaining because of the long distance we walked to the Ecclesia and at long last the answer has come. We are now renting premises at a central distance from all of us. We thank the Almighty God for this, and also would like to thank Bro. Sylvester Tembo for his efforts. He is still trying his utmost, and we don’t leave him to work alone, but help him to succeed.
Bro. Dutch Mphayah
Many of us like Gospel News because we are always updated with what others are doing in their respective ecclesias, and because of such news we also become motivated.
I am writing to you to make some comments regarding the book, The Real Devil. Having gone through this book, with my little brain, I have seen that it is another good work that Bro Duncan has produced. I have known Bro Duncan through his frequent visits which he used to make to Malawi and appreciate the way he humbles himself, and also his simplicity. I am very touched by his mention of the ‘self talk’ that some of the Bible characters have had, which again applies to all of us. I really admit that. I also had a look at his explanation of the man of sin, in the letter of Thessalonians, - i.e. it is up to the reader of the explanation narrated in the book as to whom this man of sin belongs. I also appreciated the way he used notes from other writers.
Very pleased with the latest Gospel News. Early December we are arranging, God willing, for a Fraternal at Chilumba in Karonga.
Bro. Sylvester Tembo
NENO
Thank you very much for the books you sent me – they are very good. And at one time you sent me an address for Bible Magazine. I wrote to them and they have started sending to me: they are also very good, writing about world politics and the Bible, centred on Israel and her surrounding countries.
Bro. A. Liwawa
NKHOTAKOTA
I am more happy than you can know, now that I have been baptized into Christ. GOD has really pulled me out of the mud. Although I had my diploma in theology, this was nothing because I was wrongly teaching that Christians will go to Heaven. But now I am truly understanding the Bible. My aim now is to move to every area by bicycle to preach against the errors of many denominations. Don’t forget I was a pastor, leading many with false doctrine, and so now that I am their enemy. I so want them to know that the Kingdom of GOD will be on earth and I that am not their enemy. The former church has now rejected me but I am not discouraged, although I have no money for my proper living. If you were here you will feel sorry for me. People think I and my wife have started a satanic group,
because they don’t know the truth about satan . I thank God I am teaching 24 people from different churches; these people with me are learning through Bible Basics. I will invite you next year, God willing, to baptise them here at Nkhotakota - not now but next year, as they need more time to understand John 8:32.
Bro. Leonard Chaunga
I am still to getting over the weather changes between Norway and Malawi, but I am settling down nicely. Thank God.
Bro. Esau Chirwa
SINYALA
Let us remember that the grace that enabled the Lord Jesus to tread the path of life is available for us; He still serves us as our great High Priest to sympathize and sustain us as we seek to follow in his steps. Whatever we may have to face, let us remember the word: ‘Be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.’ (2 Tim.2:1)
Such is the loveliness of Christ as He trod the path of life, lived in all its beauty before God, and marked it out for his people to follow – a life of dependence upon the Father’s hand of power, confidence in the Father’s heart of love, and subjection to the Father’s will. It is a life of lowliness that finds its delight with God’s poor people – the excellent of the earth; a life of separation from evil.
We find in the Lord, life’s future portion, and its present cup of blessing; a life which has the Lord as its one object and has the Lord ever–present to support it. We have a life of secret joy and gladness that ends at last in the presence of the Lord, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore.
The very important book The Real Christ and Bible Companions have reached me safely – thank you. In my previous letter I requested a pair of reading glasses, lens clear, 2.75 and not 1.75 – that was a mistake. The old ones are out of use and I have difficulties reading and writing.
Now in Christ we are no more aliens or foreigners, but belong to the family of God. Both Jews and Gentiles are of one body and all can approach God in the same way, through the blood of Christ and his intercession for us. We have the privilege of addressing God as our Father. Jesus said to his disciples, in answer to their question about praying, ‘when you pray, say “our Father in Heaven.”’ (Luke 11:2) This is wonderful, to be able to come to our Creator as our Father. The Son of God was manifested, that he might overcome evil.
It was lovely to hear from you and also to receive the pair of reading glasses lens clear +2.75 suitable for me, also GPL Middle East Update News and Bible Companions. We continue our service of preaching in the Lord’s vineyard ever aware of our responsibility to spread the glorious news of the truth of the Gospel and the life which is in the Lord Jesus. We are now having many new contacts. God willing, a new ecclesia is going to be operated 25km. from here. I am not feeling too well, suffering from backache and nerves (knees) paining too much. Our nearby clinic has no medicine at the moment. Please pray for me.
Bro. Henderson Sosola
ULONGWE
Thank you for the parcel of books you sent; they will help with the big jobs to be done in our ecclesia. We have brothers and sisters who have no books, so we are waiting for your help in giving us books for them – thank you very much.
Please, please can you come here? We have boys and girls who are waiting to be baptized. If you tell us the month and day you can come we will be waiting.
Bro. Lyton John
‘He shall build an house for my Name.’ 2 Sam.7:13 shows that Jesus will build a temple for God. God’s house is where He is willing to dwell, and Isaiah 66:1-2 tells us that He will come to live in the heart of men who are humble to His word. Jesus is therefore building a spiritual temple for God to dwell in, made up of the true believers. Descriptions of Jesus as the foundation stone of God’s temple: 1 Peter 2:4-8 and of Christians as the temple stones, 1 Peter 2:5.
The Jewish law categorized certain foods as unclean – a practice adopted by some denominations today, especially regarding pork. Because of Christ’s ‘removing of the Law on the cross, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink.’ Col.2:14-16. Thus the Mosaic commands concerning these things have been done away, seeing that Christ has now come. It was he to whom the ‘clean’ foods pointed forward.
Sis. Aida Kalungama
Sis. Monica Lamulani of Nkanda Ecclesia was recently baptized
Thank you for the Bible Companions, which have been shared by the Bible readers in my Ecclesia. If possible, would you send me a few Bibles – there are five newly baptised members here and I wish to give one to them.
I was in Mangochi, for door-to-door preaching in Njoka Village T.A.Chimwala. I wish to go there again, and to other districts to preach the gospel, but due to financial problems and transport I find it very difficult, because from Balaka to Mangochi is a very long distance.
Bro. Edson Makwecha
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon wanted to know the world’s future (Dan.2:38). He was given a vision of a great statue composed of different metals. Daniel interpreted the statue’s head of gold as representing the king of Babylon. After him there was to come a succession of major empires in the area around Israel, to be concluded by a situation in which, as the statue’s feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdoms of the world would be partly strong and partly broken. (Dan.2:42)
The present balance of power in the world is split between many nations, some strong and some weak. At the end of the vision shown to Nebuchadnezzar, a stone hit the image on the feet and destroyed it, scattering it far and wide, while the stone itself grew into a great mountain which filled the earth. (Dan.2:34-35) This stone represented Jesus, (Matt.21:42, Acts 4:11) – references referring to Jesus as ‘the stone.’ The mountain which He will create and which will fill the earth represents the everlasting Kingdom of God, which will be established at Jesus’s second coming. This prophecy is in itself proof that the Kingdom will be on earth, and not in heaven. (Heb.2:9): ‘But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour that by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone.’ Luke 1:32: ‘He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David. (v.33) And he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.’ And we read in Rev. 11:15: ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever.’
We listen and wait for the coming of Jesus Christ to this world to be King of Kings, and must pray and keep his commandments in our hearts.
Bro. Lyton John
One family of Nkanda Ecclesia
Sister Janet Mujiwa of Nkanda Ecclesia
ZOMBA
Truly, the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few; that’s the situation we are all in with Gospel preaching.
Here in Chileka Ecclesia, Zomba., we are meeting people door to door, especially as our fellow brothers and sisters preach, and we discuss and read the Bible. We also invite people from other denominations to attend our services. In this way we convert people to the flock of Israel in hope and faith.
With the help of our Lord this work is going well and gives us an increase of brothers and sisters. We usually meet once a week on Thursdays. People from other denominations seem to be interested in learning the Truth from the Bible.
We must keep on waiting and praying day by day for the return of our Lord Jesus.
Bro. Kenneth Maganger
Thank you for your letter and for sending me the Bible. Can you please send me two Bible Basics in English and eight in Chichewa. When I went to Karongo the people took all my books and Chichewa Bible.
Bro. Bernard Kawonga
We have lost, by the falling asleep in Christ, a very good Sister, Matilda Sanjama, who was wife to the former Secretary, Brother George Sanjama, she died while he was in South Africa. She died from meningitis and has left three boys, Charles, Hackwell and George Jnr. Charles 17 and Hackwell 15 are baptised and they do understand that she is just waiting for the judgement day when, God willing, we shall all meet in the Kingdom.
I was happy to read in Gospel News about Claude, my friend. I knew him when I was at the operations telephone bureau at Chinamwali Market. Every day he came he used to chat about Rwanda, his home. I am happy he was baptised and we do still communicate on the phone.
Bro. Samson Banda
