Update from Malawi

Jeremy Skaggs, Mission Committee Chair

This year we had 2 different teams visit Malawi. From the first team is Walter Kim, CCCC minister and president of the National Association of Evangelicals, who said of his family’s time: “In Malawi, we encountered a depth of economic poverty accompanied by so much spiritual prosperity. As we return to America, we recognize our country’s economic prosperity and confront our spiritual poverty. In this missional moment, we must learn from the global church to come together across our differences to proclaim the gospel in word and deed.”

I was excited to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to Muslim villages, until a very heavy burden manifested itself. My mind was plagued with perplexing questions. I couldn’t get past the thought of dropping a Gospel bomb, the ensued collateral damage, and then flying off. The gospel message required a life change and if they responded their lives could be uprooted. In all honesty, I had to reconcile within myself, if I truly believed what I preached.

I prayed and prayed until I realized that there is a cost either way. After all, “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I am excited to report that we helped strengthen the village churches in Malawi. In 3 events, we preached to 600+ people and nearly 200 people publicly came forward to begin their Christian journey. They were connected to a local pastor and introduced to their new Christian family. God is on the move in Malawi and the church is growing daily.