Hope Msisions Newsletter 2016: issue 1

Annie Mkandawire
Project Director

Supporting Us...

At Hope Missions Ministries we rely on the support of kind individuals and donors such as you. We very much value your partnership in our work. For more information on how to support us further please click here.

Praying With Us...

We are heavily reliant on our vehicles to travel to and from the project areas and they are all currently in need of service and repair. Please pray for the finances to enable us to undertake these works and keep these essential resources in operation.

Due to the floods and poor weather over the last 6 months it is anticipated that the harvest will be poor and as a result the cost of buying food for those who are in need is at all all-time high. Please pray for those in need and for wisdom for our government and aid agencies as they seek to help in this crisis.

Finally we remain conscious of the need to generate our own income streams to further support the ministry and enable us to reduce external reliance. We have recently commenced two such operations and we ask for wisdom and favour as we continue these endeavours.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

(Ephesians 3:20-21)

Dear Friends,

Warm greetings to all our friends and supporters. We are excited to share with you here about how Chief Chapsinja, a local Chief with a powerful testimony who has partnered with us since 2008, was presented with a National Achievers Award by the President of Malawi on National TV in December. Read on to find out more.

The church congregations we nurture continue to grow, both in terms of numbers and the personal growth of individuals and leaders as they seek to go deeper with God. We have recently seen many baptisms, a new church plant already this year and we continue to disciple and train church leaders and elders across the villages.

As you give thanks I ask that you would also pray for the challenges we face. As I write this Malawi is in the grip of its 'hungry season', that time of year when food stocks are very low as the country eagerly anticipates the harvest. However there has been erratic rainfall in most parts of the nation, which means the food shortage crisis will be carried forward beyond the harvest period. Please pray for the HMM team and our country at this time.

Annie Mkandawire
Project Director

A 'National Achiever Award' for Chief Chapsinja

News flash! Chief Chapsinja was presented with a National Achievers Award by the President of Malawi on national TV in December. He was personally selected as an example to all chiefs across Malawi as not only has he encouraged the development of his village but he has taken himself back to school to learn English – humbling himself to sit and learn alongside children in the local primary school – to further his education and gain the necessary skills to help his village. On national TV he thanked God for all He has done in the village and his life, saying that their progression is as a direct result of the Gospel of Jesus and the hope that they have in Christ.

In his remarks the President of Malawi stated that Chapsinja is an example of the type of chiefs that Malawi needs and that he is a role model. On top of the award he and others who received awards in other fields have been given air tickets to visit development projects in both China and Egypt later this year. We praise God for all He is doing.

Church growth and Kuwala church plant

The churches supported by Hope Missions have experienced significant growth these past few months. Back on 15th November we hosted a baptism service for new believers from all the churches. A worship service was held in the church at Chapsinja village before people walked to the dam to be baptised. In total 51 people were baptised, the atmosphere was wonderful. We give praise to God for how he is moving in people's hearts.

This year we have plans to plant at least two further churches. The first church, Kuwala Church (which means 'to shine') has already been planted at Chakwanira and has been meeting since January. The building has been built with community involvement and is nearing completion. We look forward to reporting on a celebratory opening ceremony in the next newsletter. The church is now an important hub in the area and hosts midweek Bible studies whilst reaching out to individuals and families in the local community. We intend to plant another church in the second half of the year, God willing.

Income-generating activities for HMM

We are delighted that after a long time in the planning HMM has now started operating its own income-generating activities with support from our friends at Links International. We have started a poultry farm, initially with 200 broiler chickens, which involved the building of a chicken house and a caretaker's house. We hope to see this expand and grow in scope.

We are also making use of our own land by farming soya beans, groundnuts and maize to sell. This has suffered somewhat with the erratic rainfall, along with the rest of the crops in Malawi. Pastor Likhoko's wife Maggie is overseeing this project. We also have plans for a piggery, to start later in the year.

Leadership training and outreach to chiefs

Our work among chiefs and key community leaders is doing well. Links International enabled a Bible distribution among a group of 48 chiefs late last year and they are now going deeper with Bible study and discipleship. The original group of 12 chiefs in Gunde continue to provide a model of outreaching to other local chiefs, and more and more chiefs from other villages within TA Masula are inviting them to share the word of God with them. We foresee the need to purchase additional Bibles soon. Exciting times!

Completion and official opening of Chiyembekezo Primary School at Chapsinja

We are delighted that the final school block at Chiyembekezo Primary School at Chapsinja village is now complete. The school has been constructed in managed stages these past few years with funding and support from Crowborough Mens' Group through Star Fish Malawi, with new blocks being built as the first intake of children progressed through the school.

Hope Missions has worked hard to mobilise the local community to get behind the school and is pleased that there is now a thriving school governance committee. The school celebrated its official opening this month with Chris Knott of Star Fish Malawi in attendance.

The presence of this school has been transformational for the children in this community. Before its existence many children were not starting school until they were much older, perhaps 10 years old (as many of the little children struggled to walk 5km to the nearest school) and the performance of children was generally poor. Children in this village can now benefit from the new opportunities offered by having a good school at the heart of their community. Thank you to all the donors and supporters who made this possible.

"Transforming communities through the implementation of programs which affect all areas of community life including: agriculture, education, economic empowerment, advocacy and discipleship, working through the local church and community leaders."