We have had a fantastic two weeks of Leadership Training School here in Malawi with seven pastors. One pastor said: ‘I feel like I am starting all over again in my relationship with God and my leadership. The pastors came having only met a few of the others, and left with close friends they had cooked with, confessed sin to and prayed together with to see a stillborn baby come back to life. They came having a limited understanding of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the church, salvation and the foundations of the faith, and they left having heard from God for the first time, delivered, understanding the power of the gospel and filled with the Holy Spirit. They came not understanding what it means to lead meetings by the Holy Spirit, and they left knowing what it means to let God lead.

They came not knowing how to disciple people, and they left full of the love of God

They came not knowing how to disciple people, and they left full of the love of God instead of judgement, ready to go to the shebeen (pub) to fetch the drunkard and visit the lonely. They came not knowing the presence of God in worship, and they left hungry for more of His manifest presence: unity, passion and new songs in their hearts. They tried the first written test with trepidation and left with the confidence that they can memorise the Word, pass a test and converse in simple English. Our key pastors and base team have worked incredibly hard to pray, translate, teach, clean, cook, lead worship and mark papers. We are so grateful to God for each one of them!

More wonderful news is that we have a new volunteer, Sebastian

More wonderful news is that we have a new volunteer, Sebastian, a recent graduate of Elkanah House High School in Cape Town. ‘I decided to drop everything and travel to Malawi and have become part of the base team here, willing to help in whatever way I possibly can. I am super excited to be here. So far things have been a complete change of pace of from normal life and it’s been amazing. From doing activities like cleaning things that I had no idea existed, to experiencing the incredible scenery that Malawi has to offer, is an amazing contrast to what I’m used to. I am extremely excited for what my future in Malawi has to offer.’

Wanting to partner with us in prayer?

• Please pray that the pastors here in Malawi are courageous in implementing changes that they need to make – lives and meetings led by the Holy Spirit, walking in godly authority and shifting the culture of the Malawian churches away from religious practices.
• Please pray for the shift and accurate translation of training material (The Holy Spirit, New Testament values, The Christian Family, Ephesians).
• As a base team, we also ask that you pray for an increased grace for unity and love amongst us, that we would be of one mind and spirit in ministry.

Find out more about Four12 in Malawi here: https://four12global.com/malawi/