Errol Salvesen, Pastor of Bawtry Evangelical Church and former ZM worker in Malawi, gives his impressions of the country today.

It has been a number of years since we lived in Malawi working with the Zambesi Mission, so it was with a sense of uncertainty that I re-visited recently. Would Malawi have changed under a new President? Would my old friends still remember me? Would the Church have made progress? The answers were all positive and the past memories, even the language to some extent, came flooding back.

In all the excitement of a brief two week visit four matters stood out.

1] The numerical growth in the Churches. New congregations, larger congregations, Churches in areas previously untouched. It is remarkable to experience this and to feel the zeal of the people to bring Christ to the nation.

Errol at Vila Ulongwe with members of the
Zambesi Evangelical Church in Mozambique.

2] The development of Likubula Bible Institute. Now known as the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi, the college has increased numbers, more classrooms, extended accommodation for married students and a new curriculum leading to nationally recognised diplomas. These all contribute to a sense of a college truly meeting the higher education needs of a number of evangelical Churches. The unity, enthusiasm, and true spirituality of all concerned was a delight. Add to this the development of a lay training school called Zambesi School of Ministry and there are unmistakable signs of quite dynamic growth.

3] AIDS is a major catastrophe in Africa and Malawi has not been spared. The usual means of helping orphans in the extended family has not been able to cope with the sheer numbers of children affected and so emergency means have had to be implemented. One such project, an orphan village, is being built about 15 miles north west of Blantyre. It is funded by a UK charity called Aquaid and is under the supervision of a Zambesi Evangelical Church Pastor Levison Ntonio. It is more than a village for orphans as it has also become a centre for teaching essential skills such as good farming methods, the use of organic fertilisers and tree conservation. Women have formed gardening groups called 'Chisomo (Grace) Clubs and people travel from other areas to watch demonstrations and receive advice. The vision is inspiring, the work quite daunting and the love overwhelming. A visit can be a life-changing experience.

4] Mozambique. There was a brutal civil war raging in Mozambique during our stay in Malawi so the main contact I had with Mozambicans was in a refugee camp along the Malawi borders. What remarkable survivors the people are! So it was with some excitement I travelled into Mozambique to spend a weekend at a Church near Vila Ulongwe. This was a village that had experienced a particularly bloody massacre when Renamo rebels killed 42 people in cold blood at a funeral wake. The Pastor lost his wife and six children. Everybody fled as refugees. They lost all their possessions.
But what a remarkable weekend! I found a Church vibrant with life and love. Hundreds of people at the Sunday morning worship. A Church of believers who have managed to put the past behind them and are looking with eager anticipation to the future. Poor materially, yet spiritually rich. What a lesson to the West where we are often materially rich and spiritually bankrupt!

Life in Africa is not easy, Disease and poverty abound and social welfare is often non-existent, but there is a spiritual depth to life which seems to evade us in the West. For those despondent about decreasing Church numbers and apathy towards Christ, a trip to Malawi and Mozambique can be better than a good tonic.