Harvesters Ministries has been planting churches in Malawi for over 25 years, and our recent visit proved how fruitful that time has been. We were welcomed into the “Warm Heart of Africa” with open arms to celebrate the graduations of nearly 900 Student Pastors.
However, these pastors also shared the challenges they face, presenting us with a crucial opportunity to support Malawi through prayer. You will find prayer points below.
Celebrating 25 Years of Fruitful Ministry
Harvesters is able to provide training and materials to Student Pastors through the generous support of friends like you. In return, these students are required to plant at least three churches during their training. As we travelled to the four corners of Malawi, our expectations were blown away as pastors revealed the hundreds of churches that have been planted in unreached areas.
Take for instance, Pastor Wilned Phangula, who has planted 52 churches and trained 10 disciples. “I do this because of the calling that is upon my life,” he says. “Harvesters Ministries has really held my hands to reach out to lost souls. I follow the principle of multiplication.”
Then there’s Pastor Wiseman Ffraction who has planted an astounding 168 churches! “As a pastor, I was trained with Harvesters and I go and train others. We have been sharpened,” he says. “Harvesters is doing a tremendous work to transform lives.”
Recent graduate, Pastor Daniel Mtambo from Mzuzu is taking the training to rural areas in Malawi, as well as to neighbouring Tanzania and Zambia. He shares, “This material has lifted me as a pastor and also as a missionary.”
Pastor Isaac Nyamafumba, Harvesters’ Country Leader for Malawi, reflects on the past 25 years. “We have learned how to preach. We have learned how to plant churches. We have learned how to raise Timothies, the disciples. We have learned to send the Timothies to go and plant churches,” he explains. “Harvesters is not just theory. They give us knowledge and the [method] to plant churches. God has worked through Harvesters and we are no longer the same. Malawi is on fire!”
“Malawi Has Been Invaded”
Despite these successes, Pastor Isaac also described significant challenges in Malawi, from difficulties in transporting materials and the long distances travelled for evangelism, to natural disasters like cyclones and droughts.
And Pastor Barnet Phiri from Liwonde raised a grave concern, stating that “Malawi has been invaded” by Islam. He explained that Muslims are strategically infiltrating Malawi as a gateway to Southern Africa with an aim to Islamise the continent.
The impact of this invasion is dire. In the past decade, churches have been targeted and attacked. In 2014, more than 20 churches were set ablaze in Machinga. In 2016, radicals in Nkhata Bay burned Bibles to ashes. Just this year, a pastor and his congregation in Mangochi faced violence, and their church was set on fire.
Your prayers are desperately needed for Malawi!
Prayer Points
- Praise the Lord for the abundant fruit of Harvesters’ ministry over the past 25 years. He is faithful!
- Pray for the Malawian people who are suffering rhythms of cyclones and droughts. Ask the Lord for His protection and provision.
- Pray against the onslaught of Islam that is invading Malawi and other African nations. The solution lies in evangelism and church planting. Pray boldness for believers as they share the message of Christ.
