Special Note: Due to difficulties with the internet connection in Malawi, photos could not be posted at this time.
The majority of the children in the Finish Line Ministries Africa Orphanage and Day School Ministry have lost their parents due to aids, tuberculosis, typhoid, or malaria. Humanly speaking, the deck is stacked against them. On Monday morning (7/11/11), more than 250 of these same children greeted us with music, marching, and memory verses. For the next three three hours our team hosted Kids Kamp in hopes of bringing smiles and sharing the love of Jesus Christ to those who need it most. Games, music, verses, and Bible stories ruled the morning and proved to be a great delight to the children. As our time with the kids came to an end, it became obvious that the delight was all ours.
Monday afternoon we moved our ministry to focus to a village by the name of Area 6. The Finish Line Ministries Africa (FLM Africa) church plant in Area 6 has had a difficult time gaining momentum and the pastor asked us to come and visit the people in his village. Walking through Area 6 in groups of two, our team had a number of opportunities to speak to villagers regarding the church and their spiritual condition. On one such encounter two of our team members (Pat Hurley and Andy Schmidt) met the choir director for the Area 6 church walking along a dirt trail. The choir director asked Pat and Andy if they would go with him to meet his sister at her home. He shared with them that he had been praying that she would come to Christ. Upon meeting this woman and sharing the Gospel with her, she stated, “I want a relationship with Jesus.” Pat and Andy led her to Jesus. All told, more than more than 45 other men and women prayed to receive Jesus Christ during our hut-to-hut ministry in Area 6.
On Monday late afternoon and evening we held a soccer outreach in conjunction with the Area 6 church and FLM Africa Pastors’ Bible School students. The Pastors’ Bible School students along with members of our missions team combined to play a local club team. As you can imagine, the site of our American players caused quite a crowd to gather at the public soccer field. At the conclusion of the game both teams and many of the spectators gathered at the center of the field while Jared Keiffer and I shared the Gospel and encouraged those present to consider attending the Area 6 church. By the end of the event, 22 people made professions of faith and said yes to Jesus Christ.
Earlier today (Tuesday 7/12/11) our team traveled to Mayaka Village and spoke with people in the local market about Jesus’ love for them. In addition, we encouraged the men and women we met to consider visiting the FLM Africa church in Mayaka Village. During the course of our time in the market place, hundreds of men and women gathered around our team to hear the Gospel. As a result, dozens of people prayed to receive Jesus Christ, and many more were encouraged to visit the FLM Africa church in Mayaka.
Later this afternoon, we held an outreach service at the Mayaka church. Greetings, music, and a Gospel message culminated in 18 men, women, and students, and children accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior during the service. One young man about 25 years old shared that he had met the team in the Mayaka market earlier in the day but did not make a decision for Christ. He then decided to come to the outreach service at the Mayaka church. After the Gospel message was presented, he raised his hand, walked down the aisle, met with two of our counselors (Duke Heller and Brett Moorehead) and gave his life to Christ.
The Lord has accomplished much in and through us over the course of the last two days. Together, we praise the Lord! Tomorrow is our final day in Malawi. Pray that this good work will continue.
–Sean Patrick
