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mission + partnership > Malawi

The St John’s – Malawi Partnership exists to encourage one another and to help spread and strengthen the gospel in the Diocese of Upper Shire, Malawi

Malawi is a land-locked nation in south-eastern Africa.  Often called “the warm heart of Africa”, it is politically at peace but economically very poor.  With a population of 14 million, the average life expectancy is 38 and the average income is less than $1 per day.  Twelve percent of the population is affected by AIDS and there are 1.5 million orphans.  Most people depend on agriculture to earn a living.

The Anglican Church came to Malawi with the missionaries in 1861.  The Diocese of Upper Shire, one of four dioceses, is located in an area that extends south from the southern end of Lake Malawi to the country’s second largest city, Blantyre.  Within its 30 parishes there are 285 church outstations, all led by 33 priests plus 10 retired priests who help.  Besides the training for lay and ordained leadership, the diocese is expected to solve problems of poverty – health, pastoral needs, education and politics.  To this end it runs 2 national secondary boarding schools, 38 primary schools, 17 secondary day schools, a blind school, a nursing college, 2 hospitals and 8 health centres. 

How are we involved?

St. John’s has had a partnership with the Diocese of Upper Shire since 2003.  Under the Missions Committee, the St. John’s Malawi Committee meets regularly and is in regular communication with people in the Diocese of Upper Shire. We encourage each other in living the gospel and each year St. John’s allocates money to support the diocese.  This includes support for priests’ salaries, seminary training, the position of Sunday School Coordinator and supplies and equipment to facilitate the spread of the gospel.  In the fall 0f 2010, Bishop Brighton Malasa and Father Grant Tebulo, the Sunday School Coordinator, visited St. John’s.  In August of 2011, a three family team of fourteen people visited the diocese for two weeks.  They took part in the diocesan 150th anniversary celebrations, helped with the training of teachers and clergy, and assisted in the diocesan-run hospitals and nursing schools.

The partnership is growing and developing out of the prayers of God’s people on both sides of the Atlantic and through visits. 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 or if you would like to learn more, please contact Malawi Committee Chair, Peggy Smart through the church office, 604-558.4400.  You can also access the Upper Shire website at www.malawipartnership.co.uk/uppershire.