Blessed To Be A Part Of God's Love / It's Another Girl

The Finish Line Ministries International Impact Africa
with First Baptist Church in Vandalia August 1-11, 2011

Thank you for praying faithfully during our Impact Africa missions trip to Malawi.  Outreach services in the bush country and hut-to-hut evangelism in the rural villages, provided our team with the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of people here in the warm heart of Africa.  In addition, we cared for orphans and trained pastoral students at our Finish Line Ministries Africa headquarters. 

As a result, nearly 400 people prayed to receive Jesus Christ this week.  I believe I speak for the entire team when I say that we feel blessed to have been a part of this great outpouring of God's love for the Malawian people.  What a week!

As we make our way home tomorrow, I would like to ask you to pray that those who made decisions for Christ will take the next step in their relationship with Him.  Pray that they will commit to being a part of the Finish Line Ministries Africa church that sponsored their outreach service.  Lastly, I would like to ask you to pray for our team as we travel home.

BIG NEWS:  At 3:00 am on August 10th, Yohane Kaphesi's (FLM Africa General Secretary) wife Wezie gave birth to a baby girl.  This is Yohane and Wezie's second baby girl in three years.  A name has not been determined.  Congratulations Yohane and Wezie!

Sean Patrick (Team Leader)
Finish Line Ministries International

Orphanage & Day School Ministry Demonstrates God's Love

Today the focus of our ministry efforts shifted from preaching Christ in the rural villages to encouraging the 250 children of the Finish Line Ministries Africa Orphanage & Day School.  The majority of these children have lost their parents due to aids, tuberculosis, typhoid, or malaria.  Regardless of their circumstances, our hope was that we might bring smiles to their faces and joy to their hearts.

Scripture memory, music, games, crafts, and Bible lessons provided the core components for what proved to be an exciting and fun-filled day.  As our time with the children came to a close, one of the teachers shared with me how thankful she was for our ministry with the children.  She went on to tell me that our actions proved to the orphans that God’s family loves them and always will.  Praise the Lord for a great day!  

Tomorrow we conclude our ministry in Malawi by traveling back to the bush country in an effort to preach the Gospel in the rural village of Chikungulu.  Pray that many will come to faith in Jesus Christ. 

Sean Patrick (Team Leader)
Finish Line Ministries International 

Praise God!

Special Note:  As I sit to write this update, the satellite internet connection we use continues to fade.  I will keep my comments brief in an effort to ensure they get posted to the blog.

Saturday and Sunday brought with them glorious opportunities to preach the Gospel in three rural villages deep in the bush country of Malawi. 

Words That Best Describe The Scenery Of The Past Two Days:

• Enormous Mountains
• Vast Flatlands
• Magnificent Baobab Trees
• Humble Mud Huts

Words That Best Describe How The Team Has Felt The Last Two Days:

• Fatigued
• Exhausted
• Compassionate
• Joyful
• Used By God

Results Of The Team's Ministry Efforts In The Past Two Days:

• Villages Ministered In:  3
• Outreach Services Held:  3
• Churches Encouraged:  3
• Professions Of Faith:  Approximately 105

Praise God for the past two days of ministry in Malawi!

Sean Patrick (Team Leader)
Finish Line Ministries International

To The Ends Of The Earth

Friday, August 5^th

We had an early start to the morning, rising before dawn to make our way to the village of Lipwesa.  For nearly four hours our vehicles navigated the dirt and rock roads of southeast Malawi, leaving the team wondering if they had reached the ends of the earth. 

Upon arrival in Lipwesa village, we divided into teams of 3 and 4 for the purpose of sharing our faith and inviting the people in the village to attend our outreach service being held later that afternoon at the nearby Finish Line Ministries Africa (FLM Africa) church.  We fondly refer to this as hut-to-hut evangelism.  Often we had the opportunity share the Gospel message, and at other times we just prayed with people who already professed Jesus as Lord.  Regardless, everyone we spoke to was welcoming and appreciative. 

As we continued the hut-to-hut evangelism and made our way toward the church, one of our vehicles arrived with the word that the outreach service was full and the people were ready to start.  He went on to tell us that many of the people had spent the night at the church in anticipation of the outreach service.  As it turns out, these same people walked approximately 14 miles from another village just so they could attend.

Music, testimonies, and a Gospel message highlighted the outdoor outreach service.  Though the sun was hot approximately 300 people sat outside in the dirt for a chance to hear the Gospel.  As the invitation was given, dozens of adults came forward to meet with our counselors. 

Between the hut-to hut evangelism and the outreach service, the FLM Africa church in Lipwesa village was greatly encouraged by our ministry partnership with them today.  In addition, more than 160 people prayed to receive Jesus Christ!  Praise the Lord.

Thursday, August 4^th

Today we launched our rural church outreach initiative.  With the goal of encouraging the FLM Africa churches and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our team headed to the bush country of southern Malawi. 

A rough ride awaited us as we climbed deeply rutted mountain roads and cut through shallow river beds on our way to Golagato village.  For much of the trip, the roads were barely wide enough for our vehicles to pass.  This was undoubtedly the most difficult terrain I had ever experienced in my 16 trips to Malawi. 

Though the road was difficult and often treacherous, God protected us and gave us the opportunity to preach Christ to 300+ people during our first outreach service of the week.  As a result, nearly 60 men and women made professions of faith.    


Sean Patrick (Team Leader)
Finish Line Ministries International

Safe Arrival In The Warm Heart of Africa

First Baptist Church (Vandalia, OH) Impact Africa Team
 Not Pictured:  Sean Patrick

After more than 40 hours of international travel, our team finally arrived in Malawi earlier today.  Upon arrival, we received an immediate answer to prayer:  The arrival of all our personall luggage and ministry supplies for the week.  In addition, we arrived safely, on time, and in good health.  Thank you for praying!

After retrieving luggage and navigating through customs, we were greeted by Bishop Love Kaphesi and Professor Yohane Kaphesi.  These men serve as the core of our leadership team at Finish Line Ministries Africa (FLM Africa).  God had used them greatly over the years, and it was good to see them again.  Soon after, we loaded up the vehicles and made our way to the FLM Africa headquarters. 

The journey from the airport to our headquarters is only about 30 minutes long.  In that short period of time, it becomes easy to see why the rest of the world refers to Malawi as the “Warm Heart of Africa.”  The people here are friendly and inviting.  As our vehicles made the trek up the rocky hillside of Nklolokoti village, children and adults rushed to the roadside to greet us.  What a wonderful welcoming party!

Tonight we will rest and tomorrow we will begin our rural village outreach ministry in the mountain village of Golgota.  Pray that God’s Word will ring true in the hearts and minds of the men and women there.  Pray that many will come to Christ and that the FLM Africa church will be postured well in the eyes of the village.  In addition, tomorrow we will launch our Pastors’ Bible School training sessions.  Pray that our students (future FLM Africa pastors) will continue to grow in their studies and preparation for the pastorate. 

Be sure to check back in a couple of days for updates from our first ministry experiences in the rural village and additional pictures from the field. 

Sean Patrick (Team Leader)

Finish Line Ministries International

Mission Malawi

Later this morning, 12 men and women from First Baptist Church (Vandalia, OH) and I will begin our journey to Malawi for the purpose of serving alongside the leadership team of Finish Line Ministries Africa (FLM Africa).  Our mission:  To preach the Gospel, encourage FLM Africa churches, and minister to orphans. 

Pray for safe travel and the arrival of our luggage and ministry supplies.  In addition, pray that many will hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We believe God is going to do a great work during our time in Malawi.

A special thank you to all who have supported the team financially and prayerfully during the days leading up to our departure.  Thank you for making this trip possible. 

Be sure to check back periodically for updates from the field.

-Sean Patrick

Impact Africa

Thank you for your faithful prayers during our missions trip to Malawi.  From outreach services in the bush country to market and hut-to-hut evangelism in the villages, the Gospel of Jesus Christ penetrated the hearts of many.  From orphan ministry to training pastoral students, the church was encouraged and equipped.  

In addition to spiritual victories won, our team gleaned much from their time spent with the executive leadership team of Finish Line Ministries Africa (Love and Yohane Kaphesi).  Their passion for lost souls, the preaching of God’s Word, and the planting of churches is truly infectious.

I am certain that the Lord used our team to make a great impact on the villages, churches, and people we ministered to on this trip.  All told, just over 500 people said yes to the Gospel during the week.  It has been truly humbling to be used in such a wonderful way.

As we depart, we ask you to pray that those who made decisions for Christ will take the next step in their relationship with Him.  Pray that they will commit to being a part of the Finish Line Ministries Africa church that sponsored their outreach service.  Lastly, pray for our team as we travel home.

-Sean Patrick