What would you say if your pastor told you that he had never received any theological training? But this is the reality for many pastors in Malawi. For the few that have been trained at a Bible College such as the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi (EBCoM), their training may have been many years ago. 80% of Malawians live in rural areas, meaning that the majority of Malawi’s churches are located in remote places. The majority of pastors who serve there can be equally isolated. There are almost no opportunities for online learning and few, if any, Bible conferences.
The original concept of zm’s bookset conferences was to take EBCoM’s Bible College teaching to the many church leaders who were unable to come to the college. At the end of the conference each participant receives a set of theological books in English and Chichewa to support their ministry. For most it is a once in a lifetime event.
Connex Ijalasi addressing those attending at Mzuzu
Two bookset conferences were held this summer. The first was held at Mzuzu in July and the second at Nkhotakota in August. COVID-19 regulations were observed, which meant that numbers had to be strictly limited. Overall there were 176 participants from at least 10 different denominations.
The Bookset Conferences at Mzuzu and Nkhotakota
Theme: ‘Let Us Work While it is Day Time’
Topics: Disciple making, The Leader and his Vision, Pitfalls of the Christian Leader, Preach the Word, Team Work, Understanding Islam, Walking with God, Biblical Principles of Marriage and Transformational Leadership.
Facilitators: Connex Ijalasi, Simon Chikwana, Rose Chirwa and Gift Mphongolo
A great deal of input in a very short space of time! The number of participants and their responses indicate how much these conferences are valued. One pastor declared as the conference at Nkhotakota was progressing: “This is our Bible College”
Rev Lawrence Mbuna receives his bookset from zm’s Field Director Simon Chikwana at Nkhotakhota
Please will you pray:
- For the pastors and church leaders, as they put into practice what they have learnt at the conferences
- That their churches would be encouraged and built up as a result.
- That God would call more men and women to study full-time at EBCoM as a result of these conferences
- That others would be inspired to support and equip pastors in rural areas.