• Home
• Contact
• Site map

mission + partnership > Malawi

The St. John’s Malawi partnership exists to help spread and strengthen the gospel, in the Diocese of the Upper Shire.

Malawi, the warm heart of Africa, has a population of 12 million. Politically, it is a country at rest. Economically, it is one of Africa’s poorest nations. The Diocese of the Upper Shire includes 26 parishes and encompasses an area from the southern tip of Lake Malawi south to the country’s largest city, Blantyre. Most people depend on agriculture to earn a living. The average income is $1 per day.

Rev. Jim Salladin and his wife Amber visited Malawi in the summer of 2008 and filed this report:

 "Father Njala is a firecracker. He has only been ordained for a year – he is 28 years old – but he is responsible for something around 13 congregations. His job is as close to impossible as you can get, but I don’t think he has realized that. As I sat with him, enjoying lunch by Lake Malawi, I expected him to tell me how hard his job is – how unfair it is that he should be expected to look after these congregations all by himself. But he didn’t say any of that. Instead, he spent the whole time we were together telling me stories about how powerful the gospel is, how God is triumphing over Satan in his parish, how people are being converted, and what pastoral care looks like when 14% of the population is dying of AIDS.

Needless to say, I was impressed. But more than that, I was blessed. I was drawn closer to Christ through friendship with this man. And I realized this is what St. John’s partnership with Malawi really needs to be all about – friendship; and not just any sort of friendship, but friendship in the gospel.

And that is why St. John’s partnership with Malawi is so exciting. It is not about aid, it is not about our generosity and the amount that we give. If that is all it is, then we will both be impoverished. It is about both St. John’s and the diocese of the Upper Shire growing in Christ, together. The Lord has brought us together so that we can edify, encourage, build each other up. We can give monetarily, and we will, but it is more important that we give ourselves, that we give our relationship to them. And as we become closer friends, it is my prayer that a little bit of Father Njala’s fire will kindle in our hearts."

How are we involved?

 Under the Missions Committee, the St. John’s Malawi Committee meets often and is in regular communication with people in the Diocese of Upper Shire. Each year we allocate money to support the diocese. It is anticipated that, in the Fall of 2010, the newly elected Bishop, Brighton Malasa and the Sunday School Coordinator, Father Grant Tebulo will visit St. John’s and that a team from St. John’s will travel to Malawi in the summer of 2011. Other news of the partnership and the people is detailed in the semi-annual Malawi – St. John’s Newsletter.

The partnership is growing and developing out of the prayers of God’s people on both sides of the Atlantic. Consider praying faithfully for the Upper Shire and for St. John’s – that God will direct and strengthen the relationship. If you are interested in establishing a prayer commitment, please contact Malawi Committee Chair, Peggy Smart to learn of specific prayer requests. Or if you have a real heart for Africa, or would like to learn more, please be in touch with Peggy.

Sections: