For ChURches’ Eyes Only: Join Us in the Journey of Giving & Receiving

Update #3

It has been a consistent pattern of faith and experience: I have received more than I have given when it comes to the ministries and mission I’ve been a part of over the years, especially the month I spent in Malawi in the summer of 2000. My last night at the church in Mzuzu, they honored me with an evening meal and gifts, including giving me a Chief’s Chair, hand-carved from a tree trunk, an extremely precious commodity in Malawi. Receiving a Chief’s Chair was over-the-top generosity and honor on their part, much more than I ever could have deserved or given to them, especially because I learned so much, received so much, from them through the fellowship and worship and relationships shared during my stay.

Deb and I are going to receive so much more than we can ever possibly give to those we will be serving on the CCAP Synod Nkhoma’s campus in Lilongwe in ’23, but one thing we are going to do is share the stories of the gracious, generous, warm people of Malawi–their faithfulness as well as their struggle in the midst of such scarcity of material resources, healthcare, nutrition. We will be publishing articles, stories and video recordings churches may use as catalysts for Christian Fellowship gatherings of youth and adults and videos that may even be used as “Guest Preacher” sermons when pastors are out-of-town or on “holiday” (as they say in Malawi). (We hope the the Posts may also serve as catalysts for personal reflections.) And when we return in ’24, we would absolutely love to visit churches in PA and the tri-state area to share our pictures and stories and reflections of our year in Malawi.

We are asking churches and individuals alike to join us in giving and receiving; for mission committees to provide any amount of financial support (dollars go so far in Malawi and with our projected expenses: $10 is a day’s meals, $50 is a month of utilities, $100 is a month of phone/internet service, $200 is a month’s rent where we’ll be staying, $500 will cover the cost of our transportation for the year–two bikes).

May our service in Malawi and what we will be offering churches back home in the U.S., with our written and recorded Updates throughout the year ahead, be worth prayerful consideration and financial support. Thank you.