READ: PROVERBS 3: 5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Ben Hayes, the US Executive Director of Namikango Mission in Malawi Africa, told us that 77.3% of the people in Malawi profess the Christian faith but when they have personal problems, such as illness, they still resort to visiting the local Shaman or Witch Doctor. This is why Namikango Mission, which has been empowering African communities through Christ-centered transformation, continues to expand their Discipling Program which now reaches over 1,000 local churches. These programs work through small groups of men and women to help them develop deeper Christian spiritual roots and foster the Biblical principles of grace and unity—key themes of the Gospel Message. Additionally, they have just graduated 13 students from their second cohort of a two-year Disciple Based Leadership Institute. These students are now at work in their communities delivering the gospel message and serving in Jesus’ name to help with economic, social, educational and health related development. Yes, old ways die hard, but Namikango Mission is leading the way to supplant the influence of the witch doctor with the presence of THE LIVING JESUS!
Malawi is the fourth poorest country in the world where people average just $2.15 per day, and the witch doctors alleged power has done nothing to improve this situation for its 21 million people. Enter Dan neck Faylina and Willie Mpasuka, the respective Executive Directors of Cornerstone and Rays of Hope Ministries. Using their leadership training and small initial rants of money from Urban Promise International in Camden, New Jersey, these two native Malawians have established solid Christ-Centered educational programs designed to be the foundation for generational change in their nation. In just 9 years, Cornerstone Christian High School has gone from 16 to 505 students with 230 graduates. Rays of Hope has trained thousands of teachers; have 1500 students in after school tutoring; and are empowering youth-initiated businesses. Funding these and many other community efforts to feed and educate their respective communities has not been easy, but they rely on and trust in THE LIVING JESUS and the results are nothing less than amazing. Love, trust, dedication, discipline and hard work, not hocus pocus and spells, are helping a poor nation begin its climb out of poverty and hopelessness with Jesus!!
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Ben, Danneck and Willie, along with their dedicated staffs in Malawi, have learned to trust in the Lord with their all of their hearts and the results of their faith are reflected in their respective ministries to the glory of The Living Jesus! Valuable lessons from a third world country to those of us who live 9,000 miles away.
Dear Jesus, I confess that I lean upon my own understanding far too often. Help me open my heart and trust you with my entire life.