FREE GRACE EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION

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1 FREE GRACE EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION MALAWI CONFERENCES - JULY 2014 REPORT By Duwen Musaka (Regional Director, Central/Southern Africa) We continue to give thanks to God for His grace and mercy in our labours in His vineyard. For without His grace we cannot manage to do the work of the ministry. It is all because of His grace that we are what we are, and are able to carry out His assignment for our lives in this generation. During break time in Chikwawa I left home early on Monday morning 14 th July 2014 for Malawi FGEA July conferences. I arrived in Lusaka at the intercity bus terminus just in time get a bus leaving for Chipata at 10-00hrs. After hrs we left for the Chipata and were there around 18-00hrs local time. I spent a night with Pastor Peter Phiri s family. The following morning I left for Chikwawa, Malawi, where the first conference was taking place. Pastor Maliwa had gone ahead of me the previous day since Chikwawa conference was scheduled for July. I arrived in Blantyre around 18-30hrs and was met by the South zone Co-ordinator Pastor Kaunde. We got into what seemed to be the last minibus for Chikwawa, after some minutes we left Blantyre and by 19-45hrs we were in Chikwawa. We were met by the Pastors Fellowship chairperson with his wife, who drove us to our lodging place and met with Pastor Maliwa there. We were finally together, thank God for the travelling mercies. People taking notes during the session After supper, Pastor Maliwa reported on the day s meeting and what was covered. There was a very encouraging response from the people in that many pastors and church leaders with their spouses came to attend. Pastor Maliwa had given talk on the various Chichewa Bible versions. It was a good time and more was discussed on the Chichewa Bible versions circulating in the Church. We thank God for the day s sessions which started in the morning; pastors, elders, deacons and other church leaders with their spouses had gathered from different churches to attend to the teachings brought by FGEA. Bible/book distribution in Chikwawa On the 16 th July, a brief introduction concerning me was given by Pastor Maliwa, and then I was called upon to begin the addresses for the day. The community hall was filled to capacity by people who came walking and cycling. A few, 2 or 3 came driving that day. My first session was on The Word of God, then how we need to use the Word, and finished with the Necessity 1

2 for a Faithful Bible Translation. People were so attentive to the subjects we taught because this was a new teaching. Their eyes were opened to the light of the Gospel of Christ. Many testified to this fact. What we taught brought light in the hearts of Christian leaders in Chikwawa. At the end the teaching sessions, we distributed the Authorised Version (KJV) and Chichewa Bibles and books to all the participants. There was now, a longing for a good Bible translation not just the so called Holy Bible. This was a historic meeting in this place as far the Church is concerned. Participants raise their new Bibles and books in Chikwawa The Pastors Fellowship chairman testified that this was a new thing which has happened where people could sit for 2 days, just listening to the Word of God, giving offerings and paying conference registration fee. In the Church history of Chikwawa, it has never happened this way, until you people (FGEA) came here and brought all these leaders together. They are used to receiving sitting allowances at the end of such conferences, without that they cannot stay. This conference has been FRUITFUL. Indeed liberation has come to this place. Such gatherings are only seen when there is a political leader coming. Please, plan for another conference for this place. On the 17 th in the morning after breakfast, we left Chikwawa for Mulanje via Blantyre. We had a stopover to check with the printers doing a book by James Salkeld. We arrived in Mulanje late in the afternoon with our luggage. Our host came to welcome us at the lodge where we stayed during conference days. It was here where I discovered the heel for my right shoe was ripped apart. This happened in Limbe as we walked in a rocky pathway to catch transport to the printers. I didn t notice this had happened until removing my shoes in my room. We are not ignorant of the devil s devices. Our work was to continue and the issue was sorted out. The conference venue near mount Mulanje Our arrival in Mulanje Pastor Maliwa and Pastor Kaunde The day had begun and people had arrived at the conference venue which was close to mount Mulanje. It was a good sight, especially when you think Mount Sinai or Horeb. People came from near and far places, walking and on bicycles. Again pastors/leaders and their spouses came, they were eager to listen to what FGEA had to present. We taught on Christ the Eternal Word of God, The Word of God and the Church Leader, Necessity of a Faithful Bible Translation and the Chichewa Bible Versions. This was what we gave out in Mulanje, and the Lord blessed our meetings. Some people in the audience were quite puzzled to discover what was not found in some versions of the Bible 2

3 including Chichewa. Leaders were challenged to lead their lives, families and churches according to the Scriptures. The audience during the last session One minister came to talk to me during lunch break. He came to the conference saying if they will be teaching the American prosperity message then I will not stay. He found what we had was just the Word of God. He said, what you are teaching is what we need today in the church. He continued with us and brought his wife on the second day of the conference because he had proved us to be faithful to the Word of God, he said. Mulanje was interesting because a few there had an idea of missing verses from Chichewa Bible and also in some NIV Bibles, but could not tell why. They were quick to grasp what was being taught and had much reasoning among themselves as to why people should tamper with the Word of God to the extent of removing the lot which they discovered during the conference. Some folk who had registered to get a Chichewa Bible changed to the AV Bible. Others were saying we had never seen these things before. This is truly an eye opener to many people reading the Bible. On the last day we distributed Bibles and books to the all the participants. Participants lift their Bibles and books in Mulanje After the work was completed we moved on from Mulanje to Balaka via Blantyre, the home of Malawi national Co-ordinator Pastor Maliwa. From Blantyre we had another standing experience on a big bus, as we travelled to Balaka. It reminded me of the former days. Thank God we arrived safely in Balaka, that night. We were met by a couple, family friends to the Maliwa s, who drove us to the national Co-ordinator s home. Though tired after preaching and then standing on a bus; we thanked God now we were home and could rest. Pastor Maliwa s wife welcomed us into their home and it good to be with this family again. On the Lord s Day, I ministered at Holy Life Family Church which is the home church for Pastor E. Maliwa, on the subject: Manifesting the Glory of God. We had a wonderful time looking at the glory as revealed by the incarnate Word. Jesus Christ is the mystery of the glory, and those dwelling in the Word reflect of the glory of Christ. Indeed Christ Jesus is the hope of glory in us according to Colossians 1: Pastor Maliwa and his wife in front of their house in Balaka Monday morning 21 st July, was first day of the conference in Balaka. Pastors, elders, deacons with their spouses had gathered for the conference. Close to 100 participants had registered in advance. About 27 came from very far places and had to lodge in Balaka, the organising committee made sure that they were accommodated and food provided. By mid-day 160 leaders had registered far above what was planned for by the organisers. On the morrow the number went up to 170 participants to the amazement of the team. I 3

4 spoke on the Church Leader and the Word of God, Faithfulness to the Word, and Necessity of a Faithful Bible Translation. Pastor Maliwa continued with topics on the Chichewa Bible versions elaborating all those issues appearing in different Chichewa Bibles, because there about 5 version including New Testament Chichewa KJV. Upon hearing things brought out from Chichewa Bible, one ministered went to talk to Pastor Maliwa and said, don t you think you are now confusing people with all these things you are bringing out concerning the Bible? The man was opposed to what he heard and saw from what was being taught. Pastor Maliwa answered, we are showing people the way, and that as they read the Bible they should know that there are these things which the enemies of God did to versions of the Bible. Conference venue in Balaka Pastor Maliwa later came and talked about the same in the audience, and he rebuked the ignorance in some clergy who did not want the people to know the truth. The enemy was silenced and the people had joy. This is the only place where we faced opposition during our conferences. But thank God, people were happy with the revelations and kept on saying, we are blessed by the teachings. We then distributed the AV Bibles, recommended the best current Chichewa Bible version and books to the overwhelming group of pastors, church leaders and their spouses. It was such a wonderful time in the home town of FGEA Malawi, all went back home rejoicing at least with something in their hearts and hands. Participants lift their Bibles and books in Balaka On Wednesday afternoon 23 rd July, we left for Dedza conference which was scheduled for July We arrived in Dedza just after 17-00hrs local time. The FGEA representative was already at the conference venue waiting for us. Pastor Maliwa went to look for a cab to take to our destination, but to our shock no cabs were available. There had been some killings just before we went there and this brought fear to residents of the time. He found a man who asked him a lot of questions including he was, what his mission was, where he was coming from. The man promised to come and pick us up but never came. It was now getting late and we needed to get out of the bus station to our lodging place. I said to the two brethren (Pastor Maliwa and Pastor Mbwana) something must be done since we were all visitors to this border town, and quietly offered up prayer to the Lord. Then a car drove in from the eastern gate stopped in the distance. After some good minutes the car started moving, as if it would pass by where we had stood. There was only one man in the car, and Pastor Maliwa advanced to stop him and asked for a lift. The man was sent by the Lord to rescue us. We later discovered he was a believer and an elder in the church. His Pastor was one of the people we found waiting for us at the conference venue, but there was no connection in him picking us and his pastor being at the venue. The Lord is faithful to all generations and to those who fear His name. Part of the audience in Dedza 4

5 On Thursday morning, the conference started with people registering. We repeated our talks we did for the Balaka conference in Dedza. People in this place were more eager to know what was being taught than all the three places we had been to. They were very quick to grasp and began to make their own researches. Two people who had corrupted versions on the first day, did not bring them back the second day. When I inquired about the Living Bible and Revised Standard which I had seen the previous day, they replied: we have left them at home. Also in the audience there was a lady who had a worn-out Chichewa Bible. These sights are a common feature in the African church. Here we had an opportunity to write on the chalk board as comparisons of various Bible versions were made. Common sights of Bibles among many believers We thank God for His grace in enabling us to do His work and people had to testify that we had helped them, gave them ammunition to use in the battle for the truth. They continued talking about being challenged by the Word of God to live right in their families and in the Church of Jesus Christ. One pastor said, we have something to tell those Christians who did not attend this conference. Another said, our traditions really kept us back, but now we are set free. Bibles and books were distributed at the end of the conference. Photo shows a woman receiving a new Bible These Malawi conferences show the growth of the work of the Association in the nation and on the continent. We had overwhelming crowds in all the four districts were people from different churches attended our conferences. A total of about 600 pastors, elders, deacons and their spouses attended to the word which was taught and distributed. A hunger and thirst for more was created in those who attended these meetings and were asking, when will you come back? We planned for less attendees, but more came and a shortage of resources was experienced. After all was done, Pastor Maliwa and I left Dedza for Lilongwe around 17-00hrs, where we had our meeting to discuss future missions and conferences. I then left Lilongwe for Chipata (Zambia) around mid-day on Saturday, and was in Chipata around 16-00hrs local time. On the Lord s Day I ministered in our church where Pastor Peter Phiri (an FGEA(Zambia) member) is the minister. Monday morning at 07-00hrs the coach left Chipata for Lusaka, and then on another bus to Kabwe. I arrived home safely at 20-15hrs to receive a warm welcome home by the family. Duwen Musaka, (Regional Director, Central/Southern Africa) 5

6 Extra photos from Dedza Extra photos from Mulanje Extra photos from Balaka 6