by admin | Mar 25, 2020 | BLOG
In the 60’s there was a popular television show called Father Knows Best. While it’s true that fathers do know a lot, most of us depend upon mom a lot too. That’s especially true for those growing up in the village. Mothers play a primary role in running the household and raising the children in Malawi. They are the glue that holds Malawian families together.
This makes mothers a valuable resource in fighting misinformation, keeping children in school, avoiding child abuse, and promotion of safe lifestyle habits. To capitalize on the important impact mothers can have, Nkhoma Youth has taken the initiative to form Mother Groups. Most of the women in the groups are more mature. They have seen and experienced more of life. They understand the challenges younger mothers and children face. They have experienced the same issues in their own families. They can tell stories of both failure and success.
These Mother Groups come together to discuss the challenges young people are facing in their communities. They share thoughts, solutions, what is working and what isn’t. They share resources and connect folks together with others that can help. The best part is that they also study God’s Word together, learning what the Bible has to say about life and living it from a Biblical world view.
Then these mothers go back into their communities and share. They teach young girls about health issues that are normally taboo topics in the village. They counsel parents regarding child protection and the responsibilities of parenthood. They link with pastors and other church leadership to encourage and promote Bible studies. They become mentors, surrogate mothers, teachers and confidants. They are changing their communities from the inside out.
Mothers have always held a position of respect in Malawi, but now they are taking on a new role of leadership. This gives expanded meaning to those making important life decisions as they ask themselves, “What would mother say?”
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by admin | Mar 14, 2020 | BLOG
They come to school barefoot. Sometimes their clothes are tattered. Yet, they come. The children of Malawi are just like children everywhere. They are hungry to learn. Yet, they face challenges that many other children don’t face. Often no paper, no pencils, 150 students to a single teacher, parents that cannot read or write themselves. All of this makes becoming a good student more difficult.
To make a difference churches in the new Church Empowerment Zone have taken up the challenge. So far, they have started 14 new preschools to help students become better prepared for school. To help them get a head start. To help ready them so that they do not become discouraged. To give them hope.
The churches have not only started the schools, they have hired teachers. They have been granted land from village Chiefs. They have recruited mothers to feed children lunch. They have planted Maize to provide ongoing financial resources for the schools.
Working with Fishers, Trainers and Senders (FTS), Y-Malawi is providing much needed support. Each school is visited regularly and provided teaching resources, chalkboards, paper, pencils, and learning aids. Teachers have been trained and are being coached during visits regarding the latest methods to help children learn.
It’s a partnership of community, Village Church, FTS and Y-Malawi that is working. More churches are planning schools. Some even hope to expand beyond the preschool level. One church leader said, “We thought of what our community needed most. We decided on schooling for our children that could make a difference. We did not know how it could be done, we only knew to try. But now it has been done. Our children are schooling. They are happy, we are happy.”
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by admin | Mar 14, 2020 | BLOG
When children have never seen a Bible, how do you share the message? One way is to teach them using The Wordless Book. Y-Malawi partner Fishers, Trainers and Sending does just that. This tool is being used in Kids Clubs that host nearly 5,000 children each month.
The children have fun making a colorful bracelet. Sometimes they are made of cloth, sometimes of beads, sometimes of yarn. Then together they learn what the colors mean.
- Black represents sin – they learn that all have sinned (Romans 3:23)
- Red represents blood – Jesus blood covers our sins (1 John 1:7)
- White represents purity – Jesus washes away our sins (Psalm 51:7)
- Yellow represents heaven – when we believe, Jesus give eternal life (John 14:2)
- Green represents growth – our job is to grow in the knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18)
In this way the children can hear and understand the message of the gospel. Better yet, they can use the The Wordless Book to share with their friends and family about what they have learned. It’s a simple tool that makes a lasting impact.
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by admin | Mar 13, 2020 | BLOG
Can you imagine a classroom with one teacher and 150 students? Classes of this size are common place in Malawi public schools. With large classes come a lot of distractions. Students get little one on one attention. To make matters worse, materials and resources are often a challenge. So, while students in Malawi are just as bright as students of every other nation, their environment makes learning and educational success a much greater challenge.
Fortunately students in Nkhotakota now have a new weapon against ignorance. Its called Reading Corners. Students come to Reading Corners after school. Volunteers help them with reading, math, and even writing skills. Y-Malawi trains the volunteers, provides chalkboards, reading materials, and other learning aids. It’s fun and there are still a lot of students, but the results have been dramatic. 13 year old 4th grade student Anafi was so excited he could hardly contain himself when he said, “In the past I was performing poorly, but last term I managed to scoop position 2 in my classes!”
It is often said that “Education is the key to ones future,” but a key is only good in the hands of someone that knows what it can be used for. Reading Corners is giving kids a chance to know how to turn the key that can change their lives.
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by admin | Mar 13, 2020 | BLOG
Do you believe the church can change the world? We do. In an area called Nkhotakota Y-Malawi partners have brought together 70 village churches of all denominations. They are putting aside man made boundaries and coming together to work in concert for the cause of Christ. They know that together they can make a difference in their communities as they demonstrate the love of Jesus.
The first order of business is to teach basic Bible doctrine. None of these pastors has formal Biblical training. Most don’t even have a Bible. With the help of Veritas College they are learning the truth embedded in God’s Word. Some have never heard this truth before. Others have heard some, but the truth has been mixed with long standing cultural practices. Like light in a dark room, this education is enabling these pastors to see a world they never even knew existed.
Upon graduation they each received a certificate and a new Bible. One pastor said, “Now I have the word of God in my home. My home…can you believe it? I do not feel worthy. Now I can use this new knowledge to prepare sermons and help others in my church and community to know what God says to them. This is the greatest gift of my life. I never expected something so great as this.”
Now armed with the knowledge of truth, these churches are going into their communities and demonstrating the love of Jesus. They are building fences, planting trees, helping widows, starting schools. Others are noticing. Since the first graduating class these churches have grown in attendance by an average of 40%.
None of this would be possible without those who support us financially. So, can the church change the world? It already has.
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