From no Bibles to fruitful ministry: a second conference for pastors in Malawi

Malawi (MNN) — The church thrives when its leaders are well-equipped and trained. But how does this work for pastors in Malawi?In rural Malawi, there has been a critical need for pastoral leadership. While some Christians stepped into leadership roles, many were untrained and unequipped to handle the spiritual challenges of their communities. The challenges stem from both local and global factors. Malawi ranks low on the Human Development Index, with 72% of the population living below the poverty line. Access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare is limited, especially in rural areas. Additionally, the crisis in Mozambique has led many to flee, adding to the pressure on Malawian churches.

“The churches just have a wonderful opportunity to be the light of Christ, to look outward from themselves at their communities, and really provide people who are fleeing Mozambique with a testimony, showing them a good example of who Jesus is and what He is like”, comments Patrick Anthony from FMI.

This urgent need for training led a local church leader to reach out to FMI partners, requesting a conference to train pastors. The ministry responded eagerly, holding the first conference last year. Patrick Anthony of FMI recalls: “Ninety percent of those pastors work and minister in rural areas, and up until just months before the conference, they did not have their own personal copy of the Bible.”Many of these pastors had relied on sermons they heard from others, making it difficult to build a solid theological foundation or address the spiritual needs of their congregations.To address this, FMI provided each pastor with a Bible and basic training on how to study it. This year, the focus shifts from foundational training to deeper theological discussions. Patrick Anthony explains:“We plan on building on that foundation, continuing with different theological topics, with an emphasis this year on what a healthy church looks like. We want to spend time really stressing that the Lord looks for us to be productive and fruitful. Yes, we need, and we receive what we need, but He wants to see fruit born out of our lives, individually and as a church.”However, one challenge remains: transportation. Many pastors live far from the conference site and cannot afford the travel costs. Pray that every pastor who wishes to attend will find a way, and that the FMI training in Malawi will have a lasting impact.To learn more about the ministry and how you can help, visit their website.   Featured photo courtesy of Abrahan Echeverria via Unsplash.