zm recently said farewell to two friends of the mission who were faithful servants of Christ: Pastor Mercy Mkwezalamba and Heber Martin both died in May.
Mercy Mkwezalamba
Pastor Mercy Mkwezalamba had been ministering at BCA Zambezi Evangelical Church in Blantyre. She had led the wives’ course at the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi for many years before stepping down in 2020.
Mercy had been a pastor’s wife herself until her husband died about 20 years ago: so she had a very real insight into the needs of these ladies. When we interviewed her in 2014, she said: “four women received Christ during these classes – not only this year, but always. Some also don’t know how to read or write, but leave not only being able to read and write, but also to prepare a sermon and speak in front of the whole college. After their training their spiritual life is not the same. They are well prepared to serve God. We also encourage them to love their ministry”. But she also shared, “to be honest, teaching women is not easy!” We asked her how she managed to achieve such transformation in these women. Mercy said “I think my secret is that I depend on God”.
zm’s former mission workers Abraham and Ruth Folayan sent this tribute to Mercy Mkwezalamba:
We first met Mercy and her husband James in 1995 when we came to Malawi. They were deeply involved as leaders in the Youth Work (FoY) of ZEC. Later in 2000, Mercy came as a student to the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi (formerly LBI) for the 3 Year English Certificate Course. Just before she finished the Course, we received the terrible news of the death of James her husband in a Motor Accident while on an official duty in his place of work. We had to inform Mercy in the College and we thank God for the gracious way she received the news. In the strength of the Lord, she was able to continue her Studies and completed this in 2003. After Graduation, she joined the staff of the College teaching on the Students Wives Program. She was later appointed as Coordinator of the Program until she left in 2020. She devoted herself fully to this Ministry, building personal relationships with the Wives and their children. To the glory of God, many of the Wives became Born again Christians – a great help to the future ministries of their husbands. We thank God for the life that Mercy lived, a life of total dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Goodbye Mercy, until we meet again at the feet of Jesus – to part no more.
SIM mission worker Ruth Guinness also sent us this personal tribute to Mercy:
I got to know Mercy as one of the first students I taught at the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi. As staff, during her final year as a student, we were wondering who could replace the coordinator of the wives’ programme who was retiring. We realised that Mercy would be a great fit. So she joined the staff after her graduation in 2003. A few short months later her husband died in a tragic accident. Mercy continued courageously and as she coordinated the wives’ and nursery programmes she got to know all the students. She counselled the wives, and through her many became Christians and are now able to serve alongside their husbands. Mercy became like a mother to the college students and is remembered with great fondness by many. She was a valuable and faithful member of the staff team for many years. She lived up to her name, showing mercy to those in need and showing them God’s love. Whilst already busy at home and at college, Mercy never stopped learning. She completed her diploma on the extension course at the college, and went on to do a degree through distance learning. She also served faithfully in the church, and was ordained as a pastor.
We praise and thank God for Mercy Mkwezalamba’s life and her ministry. Let’s pray for her family, her church and her friends as they grieve her loss.
Heber Martin
Heber and his late wife Elsie had been heavily involved in the mission for over 40 years before he retired in 2006. Heber had been both a trustee and a member of the Executive Committee.
When Heber Martin stepped down from the mission’s Executive Committee, the trustees recorded their grateful appreciation to him for his faithful service. They recorded how, over the years, he had served as a trustee, as treasurer and as a member of the UK Executive Committee. During the last three years prior to his retirement in 2006, he also served with distinction as the Chairman of the Executive Committee. The committee spoke of the immense debt of gratitude they felt towards Heber who “had kept things going in difficult times and had led wisely”.
The Martin family’s charity the Farthing Trust helped many children in Malawi to receive education, and continues today under the auspices of Heber and Elsie’s children and wider family. We give thanks to God for Heber’s life of service and dedication to the Lord’s work.
Our former Chair of Trustees and Executive Committee Trevor Matthews shares his memories of Heber:
Growing up in London with my father Bert Matthews who was involved with zm, I remember various trips to the church at Littleport and to the Martin family home to pass on, or receive, missionaries who were on deputation tours. The best thing for us children was when they included Elsie’s home cooking. East Anglia was itself an area from which a number of missionaries had joined zm during the middle of the last century. In the early 1990s, Heber and my father steered the UK part of zm through a difficult period before wisely appointing Colin Cresswell to work for the mission. My family fondly remembers Heber visiting Canning Town at least once a year, sometimes twice, with an articulated lorry loaded with 30 tons of potatoes and carrots. The young people loved unloading the bags which were collected by Christian charities from across London. This went on for at least 25 years. At my father’s funeral in 2001, Heber spoke about the need for us to be “good and faithful servants”. Now it is my turn to say “Well done” Heber Martin, you have been called into the presence of the Master you loved and served so faithfully.
Please pray that the Lord would grant Heber and Mercy’s families comfort and peace as they grieve.
