Up Up Jesus... Down Down Satan

Saturday morning found the team awaiting news on whether the mini-bus would be able to come and transport the team to the two villages that were eagerly awaiting the gospel.  Little did we know that this was the beginning of many perilous adventures on the weekend.  After a new battery and a late start, the Lord provided graciously and the team pressed on to the Chamba village to go hut to hut spreading the gospel.  As we drove through a second consecutive day of rain, the sun burned away the rain clouds to reveal the gorgeous Zomba mountain range that encompasses many FLM Africa churches.  The team saw many pray to receive Christ in their homes while going hut to hut.  In addition, the worship service was greatly attended and many came forward to profess faith in Christ.

We moved on to the Jali village in the late afternoon to find a thatch lean-to servicing as a temporary church.  These church members were making bricks to construct their very own church.  This is another church that is fully funded and ready to receive a metal roof that will provide year-round protection for worship.  We praised God for the generosity of the many families in America that have provided for these worshippers.  At the conclusion of our service, well over half of those in attendance came forward to receive Jesus Christ as savior.

On Sunday, we traversed the eighty year old tea leaf plantations to make our way to the Njale village.  Towering trees and miles of tea plants surrounded the team as we pressed on through an unprecedented third day of rain.  The treacherous journey included a near tip-over of the mini-bus on a muddy road, traversing mud trails to the church, and most importantly, another large number of villagers being adopted into the family of God.

We had a wonderful evening encouraging the mother church on Sunday with a service of much worship and a challenging message from the Vice President Sean Patrick.  Throughout the two days and three villages we witnessed around 200 people profess faith in Jesus Christ.  What a great blessing to the Kingdom!

-Jared Keiffer

200 Receive Christ at Public School in Chingale Village - Pics Included

Today we traveled to the village of Chingale. The deeply rutted roads and the rugged mountain terrain made the trek difficult at times. Our plan was to share our faith door-to-door in the village and then hold an outreach service with the local FLM Africa church. God had an even greater plan.

Upon arrival in the village, we noticed nearly 450 people gathered outdoors to take part in a local school’s year-end student recognition program (the school year ended today in Malawi). Included in this group were students, teachers, parents, and school officials. Because the program was scheduled for later in the afternoon, the people were just sitting and standing around the school grounds.

As we unloaded, many of the people came to our vehicles to check us out. Our team quickly dispatched into groups of three and before long each group was sharing their faith with as many as 100 people who had gathered round them. Throughout the course of the next few minutes I witnessed dozens of people give their lives to Christ in these group settings.

In addition, the headmaster of the school approached us and asked us to participate in their program. Within 20 minutes, the program started and two members of our team (Andy Schmidt and James Dowdy) were sharing their faith to 450 students, parents, teachers, and school officials. An invitation was given at the conclusion of the program and more than 150 people made commitments to Jesus Christ!

All told, nearly 200 people came to know Jesus at a public school in Chingale Village, Malawi.
Praise the Lord!   -Sean Patrick

Safe Arrival In Malawi

After nearly two full days of travel, we finally arrived in Blantyre, Malawi. The Lord answered prayer, as our team arrived in good health and with a full compliment of luggage and supplies.

Tomorrow we begin our rural church outreach ministry in Chingale village. Pray that many will come to Christ and that the Finish Line church will shine as a lighthouse in the village. In addition, we launch our Pastors' Bible School training sessions. Pray that students (our future FLM Africa pastors) will grow in their knowledge, understanding, and application of God's Word. -Sean Patrick

Condition or Position? - Jared Keiffer

Praise God For A Great Week In Malawi

Earlier today we wrapped up our medical and outreach ministry by serving men, women, and children connected to the Finish Line Ministries Africa (FLM Africa) ministry headquarters in Nkolokoti Village, Malawi.   Nearly 400 men, women, and children were treated.  In addition, we distributed vitamins to more than 150 people who were unable to come to the clinic.   

 This evening we enjoyed a couple hours of fellowship together before sitting down to our final Malawian dinner of chicken, rice, and beans.   At the conclusion of our meal, FLM Africa’s founder and president (Bishop L.S. Kaphesi) took time to thank the team for their great service to the people and their passion for the Gospel.  Likewise, our team thanked him for his leadership and hard work in putting the details together for this week of ministry.

We had a wonderful time serving the Lord here in the warm heart of Africa.  I believe God used our team to greatly impact the villages, churches, and people we ministered to on this trip.  All told, we saw 2,057 patients in our clinics.  In addition, we dispensed vitamins to more than 750 people who could not get in to the clinics.  Lastly, we saw just over 700 people pray to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during the week.

 As we depart, we ask you to pray for the ongoing health of the people we ministered to this week.  In addition, we ask that you pray that those who made decisions for Christ will take the challenge to attend and get involved in the FLM Africa churches that sponsored the clinics and outreach services.  Finally, we ask that you pray for safe travel home.  See you soon. 

Sean Patrick

Vice President
Finish Line Ministries International

P.S. Included are a few additional pictures from throughout the week. 

An Incredible Two Days

Rugged dirt roads, baobab trees, and wild grasses highlight the landscape of Zomba Central.   For the past two days our mobile clinic and outreach initiative set up shop in a clearing across the road from the Finish Line Ministries Africa (FLM Africa) church located in this rural village.  As a result, our medical team provided care to over 550 patients, while our ministry team saw approximately 180 people respond to the Gospel and profess faith in Jesus Christ.  What an incredible two days!

From malaria, worms, and wound care to pneumonia, malnutrition, and respiratory infections (and everything in between) our medical team met the needs of desperate men, women, and children.  On many occasions, we were able to deliver the diagnosis and medication to adults and children who were in great distress from their illness. 

With focused eyes and concentrated hearts hundreds of people listened each day as the Gospel was presented.  The response made it obvious that God’s Word had resonated in their hearts and minds.   Likewise, the Jesus Film had a profound impact on the people and proved to be an effective tool for spreading the Gospel.      

Today we concluded our ministry in the rural villages and look forward to our ministry tomorrow at our ministry headquarters.  May God continue to use us for His honor and glory.

Side Note:  Blog site will not allow me to post pictures tonight.  Hopefully I will be able to post them tomorrow.

Sean Patrick

Vice President

Finish Line Ministries International

Floodgates Open In Zomba East

Today we concluded two days of clinic and outreach ministry in Zomba East.  God opened the floodgates and allowed our team the opportunity to care for and present the Gospel to more than 800 people from 7 villages in the region. 

Over the course of the two days, our clinic staff proved once again to be selfless, compassionate, and determined.  Today alone they saw 390 patients and dispensed vitamins to 200 others!  From wound care and diagnosis to counseling and the dispensing of meds, our team has worked tirelessly to provide physical hope to those who previously had none. 

In addition, our ministry team held outreach programs which included the Jesus Film Project and clear presentations of the Gospel.   By the time we left Zomba East, nearly 350 people had responded to Gospel and said “yes” to Jesus Christ.   Praise the Lord!

As we depart tomorrow for our third village, I ask you to continue to pray for the team and for all those we will encounter through our clinic and outreach ministry.  Pray that clinic patients will see the love of Jesus and choose to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. 

Sean Patrick
Vice President
Finish Line Ministries Africa