by admin | Nov 17, 2021 | A Lesson from Esther
Her name is Esther. Like Esther of the Bible, her story is amazing.
Our Esther was married at an early age. It was an arranged marriage, she was not even in high school yet. Then quickly came two children. 15 years passed. She worked in the fields for day wages, washed clothes, cooked meals, and did everything she could to care for and provide for the children.
Life was far from easy, but she managed to provide school fees so that her children could get an education. As she worked hard each day, she often had thoughts of what life could have been like had she not married at such an early age. Then one day Esther thought to herself, “I am older, but my life is not yet finished. I can still make something of myself. God has not abandoned me.” Right then and there she decided to do something bold. She decided to return to school.
Before long this mother of two found herself back in a classroom, sitting next to her daughters among girls half her age. It was a humbling experience, but Esther was determined. Many days she felt overwhelmed, but she continued on. She refused to give up on her future.
Along the journey, just like Esther of the Bible, something incredible has happened. Esther has become a role model to others around her. She has become an encouragement to teachers. She sets an example for other students. Her life has become a living lesson to everyone she comes in contact with. There’s more. Esther and her oldest daughter have just completed primary school together. Now they are awaiting the opportunity to go on to high school.
God provided someone to redeem the Esther of the Bible. Our Esther is not yet sponsored by Y-Malawi. We are praying that God will provide her a sponsor, someone to redeem her soon. Esther had hope because she saw what others around her were accomplishing. Sponsorship is making a difference in lives.
Perhaps you could be Esther’s sponsor? If not this Esther, there are many others with similar stories, waiting for someone to come along side them. Waiting for someone to give them a hand up, to give them a new future, to give them the hope God gave Esther.
Click here to sponsor Esther or someone like her
by admin | Nov 11, 2021 | chruch empowerment
None of his family believed in Jesus. Aloni grew up in that environment. Then one day he attended a showing of The Jesus Film near his village. He had never seen a movie before, and he just couldn’t forget about what he had seen and heard. It wasn’t just the images of people walking and talking, it was the story itself.
Aloni’s heart was telling him he had to do something more, but what? He decided to go to a local pastor who was part of the Y-Malawi Church Network. He went at night so that his going would not be known in the village. He had only one thing on his mind. Just one question. It was the same question Nicodemus asked Jesus in John chapter 3. His question was, “How can I be born again?”
The pastor shared with Aloni what it means to follow Jesus. Right then and there Aloni decided to become a follower of Jesus. He was so excited about his new life! He immediately ran home to tell his family what had happened. His family was not happy.
His parents threw him out of the house. They sent him away with nothing. No food, no extra clothes, nothing. The next day the family started telling everyone in the village that Aloni was no longer a member of the family. They mocked him and said awful things about him.
Aloni was distraught. He returned to the pastor and told him what had happened. Later the pastor said, “Aloni came to my house on several occasions, tears in his eyes, pain in his heart.” On each visit they opened the scriptures together and learned more about what it meant to follow Jesus. As Aloni began to learn more about what Jesus had suffered, he realized that what he was experiencing was nothing in comparison to what Jesus had done for him. He realized that suffering can be a natural part of living the Christian life. The Apostle Peter even predicted that we should expect it (I Peter 5:10).
Yet, as recorded in John 16:20, Jesus also said our suffering will turn to joy. That’s exactly what happened to Aloni. He has now married. He married a woman who had 5 children from a previous marriage. Then they had a child of their own making them a home with 6 beautiful children.
Life is not easy for Aloni. It is difficult to make ends meet for such a large family. They sometimes struggle to feed everyone. On balance, what they lack in material goods, is not even close to the joy of serving Jesus. Aloni is proud to tell others he is a follower of Jesus. He cleans and works at the church almost everyday. He is happy to be playing a small part in helping others to come to know Jesus as he did.
Aloni gets it. He understands what Jesus meant when He said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” There is a lesson here for all of us. Aloni’s old life is gone. In his new life he is ministering to people he will never even meet. Even to people on the other side of the ocean.
by admin | Oct 29, 2021 | chruch empowerment
God is on the move in Nkhotakota, Malawi! Many are becoming Christians; Muslims are coming to Jesus and entire communities are being changed! It’s all happening through the local village church.
With the support of World Relief and Y-Malawi so far nearly 70 churches, made up of many denominations, have agreed to come together to work for the cause of Christ in church networks. Churches within this network receive:
- Pastor and Elder training and development
- Support to lead programs like Sunday School, Families for Life marriage enrichment and evangelism initiatives
- Encouragement, and support to engage in sustainable community development.
Now your church, Bible study, or small group can play an important role in what God is doing in Malawi. You can partner with one of these village churches. As a partner you will benefit too.
- You, your group or church, will be linked with a village church.
- You will be able to communicate through monitored email.
- You will be able to share progress, prayer requests, testimonies, stories, photos.
- You will become an encourager for them, and they you.
- Quarterly you will receive an email update and progress report.
- You can even visit your partner church during a Y-Malawi Vision Trip.
This isn’t just about carrying out the Great Commission, it’s about awakening us. This awakening happens as we learn together how God uses you a tool to reap the spiritual harvest in Malawi. After all, if God is moving in Malawi, why not in your village? Ready to get innovative and partner for change? It takes just $60 per month. Money that will go to support the Malawi network of churches and provide the resources they need. That’s it. You are on the road to change.
click here to get started
by admin | Oct 18, 2021 | church empowerment zone
In Malawi, women are coming together in Bible study groups asking God for just one thing. They aren’t asking God to change their circumstances. They aren’t asking God to change their husbands. They aren’t asking God to change children or others around them. Their prayer is simple. God change me, change my heart to be like yours.
Such a prayer is powerful. God is answering those prayers and there are incredible stories of how God is using these women to impact their husbands, families, and entire communities. But what about women in America, can God work in our hearts too? He already is!
One women’s Bible study group was recently studying the story of Jonah. In part, the story is about how God can use circumstances to change a person’s heart. In Jonah’s case to help people that he didn’t even know. At the end of the study the group was challenged to open their own hearts by doing something for someone else. They decided to raise money for sewing machines for our Vocational Training Center. They raised enough money for 5 desperately needed machines!
Another women’s Bible study raised more than $12,000 for a new well this past summer. Then this group heard that our new Coordinator for Empowering Women and Girls (a woman) is working to get a drivers license and will soon need a vehicle for transportation. They didn’t hesitate, they went right to work. In just a few weeks they had raised the money for a used vehicle.
In Matthew chapter 7 Jesus talks about examining your own condition first. That principle can be applied to many circumstances in life. Changing the world is a lofty goal, but it begins with change in our own hearts.
by admin | Oct 8, 2021 | Economic Empowerment
Economic Empowerment is working! What God is doing is so exciting!
Since the launch of our Economic Empowerment initiative people are starting new businesses and becoming independent. Others are seeing the success and raising their hands to say “Me too!”
The program is the first of it’s kind. It includes a blending of support to both individuals and local Village Savings and Loan Clubs. In this way, an entire community has a stake in, and can benefit from, the success of these new business.
Upon hearing about the program one group of women in the sponsorship program got together and formed their own Village Savings and Loan Club. They asked Y-Malawi to stop giving them their regular allotment of food and grocery support. Instead, they asked that Y-Malawi help them build equity in their new club so that they can make loans to begin new businesses on their own. Since they charge interest on these loans, they benefit financially too.
Now these women are making their own money. They are playing a key role in building businesses in their own community. Now others are asking if they can be a part too. People are realizing that they do not need to depend on others, they can make their own future. We are praising God because people are gaining hope again.
Dependency go away! We don’t need you here. The love of Jesus is no match for you.
The Village Savings and Loan Club making loans for new businesses!
