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Newsletter from Martin and Marian November 2008
Our dear friends. Greetings and love to you all, we are writing this from the UK. Our last letter to you catalogued some of the 'disasters' which have befallen us this year and we asked you to pray about our future in Malawi. Here is how things panned out :- 09/11/2008
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Harvery's October Prayer Letter
Dear Friends, After a very busy summer period, things have settled down with us here and I am finally able to send out a long overdue prayer letter! There have been a number of changes in our work that are now established, the prime one being me taking on a full-time teaching position at a local international school as Year 3 teacher and Deputy Head. 30/10/2008
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Report on August visit to Malawi - Miles and Liz Thomas - See also under Projects
It was such a joy for us to spend 5 weeks in Malawi during the month of August. We really enjoyed being part of the 2008 New Life conference alongside Martin and Marian, Phil and Fi and a group from Epsom with our old friends Neil and Sue Dunlop. 30/09/2008
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History of The Chisomo Trust
Background History
The Christian work taking place in Malawi today under the names of New Life Church, Rock Springs Baptist Church and Chisomo Trust (Malawi) has been the culmination of the work of many different people since the late 1980's and now encompasses many different activities (see 'Church Life' & 'Projects' section of website.)
The Trust became a UK registered charity in early 2005 to help further develop the work of these groups. Formerly 'Friends of Malawi', the name of our organisation was changed upon registration as there was another charity with a similar name. Chisomo is a Malawian word meaning 'grace' and as we look to the future we rely upon the amazing grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The New Life Churches
The New Life Churches were founded as a group in 1994 and have steadily grown in number since. They now have about 40 branches throughout southern Malawi and are well served by the leadership of Pastor Reinod Kantwanje as well as a faithful group of district pastors and other leaders many of whom have benefited from training at the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi (EBCoM).
The main church centre near a small town called Bvumbwe acts as a conference and seminar centre for training and worship. Martin & Marian Williams and Phil & Fi Harvey are involved with bible teaching through monthly pastors teaching days as well as the systematic teaching of leaders through the TEE programme. It is also encouraging to see more young men and women growing into positions of responsibility and ministry.
The New Life church also has a very active youth work, ladies fellowship, widows ministry and 'pig pals' income generation project (see 'projects' & 'church life' sections)
The Rock Springs Baptist Churches
The Rock Springs Baptist churches were founded in 1989 by a businessman called David Jambo then living in a Blantyre township called Ndirande. David went to be with the Lord in 2001 and the oversight of this group of churches was subsequently taken on by Godfrey Kamwendo who had become a Christian as a young man under David's ministry and subsequently studied at Bible College gaining a BA in theology in 2003.
The founding church of this group in Ndirande is now the base for a community AIDS awareness, education and support project called 'John 8 in Action' (see projects section) which has helped many young people to find faith and avoid HIV infection as well as offering compassionate support to those already infected.
There are presently about 39 churches, many in rural areas and 9 of these are in Mozambique. Church leaders are being trained through the TEE (Theological Education by Extension - see projects) and some have benefited from bible college (EBCoM) training. Some of the churches also have active women's ministry (see church life) and evangelism.
New Life Church Centre
