Religious leaders lead Malawians in anti-homosexuality march

Most Rev. George Desmond Tambala presenting
petition to Hon. Yusuf Nthanda

 Scores of Malawians across the country, took to the street on Thursday to express their disapproval with proposals to stop criminalization of homosexuality in the country.

Led by different religious mother bodies, the national wide march dubbed “In defense of marriage, family, and human sexuality” took place in various districts including Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, Zomba, Chikwawa, Machinga, Mangochi and Rumphi.

The petition has asked the Malawi president Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and his cabinet as well as members of parliament to reject proposals to legalize homosexuality in the country’s constitution.

Catholic MPs Asked To Protect Life

Fr. Henry Chimkanda 

Malawi Catholic legislators have been asked to be defenders of life which is now facing threat particularly from legislations that are proposing termination of life for unborn babies.

Evangelist Shadreck Wame Murdered By House Servant

Malawi's renowned evangelist, Pastor Shadreck Wame found dead at his home situated in Takumana area in Salima district, suspected to have been murdered by his servant currently on the run.

Chilima Urge Youth To Stay Focused, Stop Wasting Time With Trivia

Hon. Chilima speaking to St. Patrick Youths 

Youths in the country told to stop being obsessed with trivia but instead remain focused pursuing their dreams.

Mutharika Seek Church Intervention To End Rampant Immoral Behaviours

Malawi President Peter Mutharika says the country is facing strange immoral behaviours and requires Church to help his government ending them.

Mw Govt To Strengthen Partnership With Women Organizations: Hosts WUCWO Conference

Dr. Mary Shawa

Malawi Government says will continue to strengthen is partnership with church and its women organizations in order to address socio-economic challenges facing women and children in the country.

Evangelist Andrew Palau Preaches To Multitudes At Love Malawi Festival

 

The largest crowd in the history of Malawi's christian gatherings turned up to hear the message of hope and unity delivered by international evangelist, Andrew Palau at the Love Malawi Festival at the fields by Maula Prison in the capital, Lilongwe.

Don Moen Performance At Love Malawi Festival Begins Today

The moment that Malawians have been waiting to see a renowned Gospel musician, Don Moen performing live in the country is finally here, as today in the afternoon, Don Moen will begin his two day musical performance at the Love Malawi Festival.

Love Malawi Festival Helps Hundreds With Eye Problems In Lilongwe

a man testing glasses at Chinsapo eyeglass clinic

Hundreds of Malawians, both young and old having sight problems when reading texts have in the week received a free gift of pair of reading glasses after being properly examined by United States and Malawian eye doctors partnering together under Love Malawi Festival.

BMX Stunts Ready To Showcase Skills At Love Malawi Festival This Weekend

The Sports action BMX and FMX riders are set to show their jumping skills at the Love Malawi Festival over the weekend, says a professional BMX freestyle biker, Vic Murphy.

This kind of sport will happen for the very first time in Malawi where six riders from United States of America (USA) including John Andrus will use bicycles to do extreme sports together with two Motorcycle FMX riders from South Africa.

Don Moen Makes Solo Performance At Leaders Dinner Ahead Of Love Malawi Festival

Don Moen performing in Malawi for the first time

Business, Civic and Professional leaders in Malawi had a rare life time opportunity as for the first time in the country, they became first people to watch renowned Gospel singer, Don Moen, performing live in Umodzi Park Banquet Hall-ahead of his performance this weekend at Love Malawi Festival by the fields of Maula Prison in the capital city, Lilongwe.

Don Moen In Malawi For Love Malawi Festival

The world most celebrated gospel singer, Don Moen is in Malawi with full band to perform at the great conclusion of the Love Malawi Festival in Lilongwe where the renowned evangelist Andrew Palau will be preaching to Malawians this weekend.

Catholic MP’s Urged To Walk The Talk

Fr. Jana giving the Holy Eucharist 

Catholic legislators have been asked to represent their words with action in their spiritual and political life.

Reverend Father Henry Chimkanda made the call on Tuesday in his homily as he was celebrating the Holy Mass at the Parliament building with legislators.

“We fail to walk the talk” observed Fr. Chimkanda 

Catholic Church Echo Appeal For Food Assistance In Malawi

Most Rev. Msusa signed the statement 

The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has appealed to people of goodwill to quickly assist thousands of Malawians facing hunger during this 2016/2017 consumption year as the magnitude of the food shortage threatens lives of many Malawians.

Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee Report (MVAC, 2016) indicates 6.5 million Malawians require humanitarian assistance.

YCW Movement Fundraising To Support St. Peters Major Seminary

Catholic grouping of Young Christian Workers (YCW) in Malawi has called on people of good will to join the fundraising activity to support St. Peter's Major Seminary in Zomba which is in deep financial crisis.

Augustine Mulomole the National President for the movement, said the group has learnt with concern that St. Peter's Major Seminary is in deep financial crisis, requiring over K8 Million by July 2016 to finish the current academic calendar.

"As YCW, we have made a commitment to raise up to K500 thousand as our contribution to the seminary." Said Mulomole

"Financial contributions are greatly encouraged and can be made through Airtel Money and TNM Mpamba using the following numbers: 0997 541 127 or 0882 474 641." urged Mulomole who encouraged all people of good will to support the Seminary

"St. Peter's is the University for young men aspiring to become priests and most YCW members, specifically boys, are at a stage of deciding to choose a vocation and priesthood is one such vocation. Even girls need priests too, so, if the seminary closes shop, then it will be difficult and very expensive for the Catholic Church in Malawi to train future priests" he explained

Since most well wishers have committed to honour their pledges by the end of the month of June, Mulomole said YCW will be receiving the donations up to the end of this month of June and during the same period, it is set to consolidate all the donations and submit them to St. Peter's.

Friends Of Zomba Diocese In Colorful Sendoff Of AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator

Fr. Chimombo pose with Friends of Zomba Diocese

 

Fr. Chimombo pose with Friends of Zomba Diocese

The group of Friends of Zomba Diocese living in Lilongwe Arch Diocese, on Sunday gathered in Area 12 to sendoff Reverend Father Emmanuel Chimombo, newly appointed Pastoral Coordinator for AMECEA (Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa) who is leaving for Kenya to work at  AMECEA Secretariat.

A large crowd of Catholic faithful from Zomba Diocese organised the colorful ceremony and presented their gifts to express their happiness that a priest from home diocese has been appointed to serve the big institution in the Catholic in the region as AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator.

Friends of Zomba going to present their gifts to Fr. Chimombo

Fr. Chimombo receiving presents from Mr. Nanthambwe chairperson for Friends of Zomba Diocese

  

"We are very proud that you Fr. Chimombo, a son from Zomba diocese has been appointed as Pastoral Coordinator for AMECEA Secretariat. This is why we mobilised ourselves to hold this ceremony today to celebrate your appointment and wish you well as you go to Kenya for this new task that the Lord has given you in our church of AMECEA region." Said Mr. Stephen Nanthambwe chairperson of Friends of Zomba Diocese 

Several speakers at the event expressed their utmost excitement for this appointment and offered words of encouragement to Fr. Chimombo to continue working hard as he has been doing while working at Catholic Secretariat of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM). 

This colorful event also helped to bring together the faithful from Zomba Diocese living in Lilongwe Arch Diocese.

Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo

Fr. Chimombo glad with the presents from Friends of Zomba Diocese

In his remarks, Fr. Chimombo thanked the faithful for the support and encouraged them to pray for one another.

"Its quite a big task but with your prayers and help of God I will work well" said Fr. Chimombo while encouraging members to remain united and work together as Catholic faithful and work to continue helping the church.

Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo, a diocesan priest from Zomba diocese was consecrated priest in 1999 and comes from Mayaka Parish.

During its Ordinary Executive Board Meeting held from 19 to 20 May 2016 at the AMECEA Secretariat, Nairobi in Kenya, the AMECEA Executive Board resolved to appoint Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi in the position of Pastoral Coordinator. Until his appointment, Reverend Father Chimombo was serving as the National Pastoral Secretary and Deputy Secretary General.

AMECEA is a Catholic service organization for the National Episcopal Conferences of the eight countries of Eastern Africa, namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Djibouti and Somalia are affiliate members.

St. Stephen In Area 12 Preaches Love: Feasts With Maula Prisoners

Families from St. Stephen, a Catholic Church small Christian community from area 12 in Lilongwe brought smile among women and sick inmates at Maula prison following the prayers and meals they provided to the inmates.

Saturday’s visit to one of the congested jails in Malawi located in Lilongwe was part of observance of Jubilee of Mercy called by Pope Francis beginning December 8, 2015 until November 20, 2016. The jubilee directs Church attention and actions on mercy so that the lives of the faithful better radiate and reflect the tender love of God and to seek to draw others into the experiencing that love and mercy.

The St. Stephen community which is part of St. Patrick Parish in Area 18 brought to the inmates a message of mercy, hope and forgiveness before serving a dietary meal to more than 365 inmates among them 65 female prisoners currently at Maula and 300 prisoners receiving various medical treatments at the prison including those on Tuberculosis (TB) treatment. 

Speaking in an interview after prayers and lunch, Mrs Christine Kapira Chingondole Secretary, for St. Stephen said they wanted to share happiness with inmates through Gospel and feasting together while showing them that they are not abandoned society.

“As group we agreed to do some works of mercy with focus on people in prisons and hospitals.” She said, “Having learnt that sick prisoners in adult section and female prisoners are continuously experiencing food shortages, we saw it fit to come and eat with them while sharing the Gospel.”

“We shared them the Gospel about the Prodigal Son and the Loving Father. Actually the main message was to remind them that even though we commit sin sometimes, but God continuously forgive us. So we must confess our sins and seek for God forgiveness and God is always ready to cleans our transgressions” she said 

The group also proclaimed hope to inmates that they are people like anybody else although they live in prison due to various factors and word of assurance that communities are ready to welcome them back once their prison term ends.  

“We have seen their growing desire to hear the Gospel, so, we will continue paying them a visit.” Said Mrs. Chingondole adding that they also will look at ways of how they can assist about six needy children who were born in prison and also Cell 12 inmates them TB patients who do not get visits regularly.

Inspector Billy Kamphambale- Acting Station Officer for Maula Prison said prisoners are mostly in dire need of food and other things like soap.

He then expressed his profound gratitude for the visit of St. Stephen to share the Gospel and have lunch with the prisoners. 

“We are very happy that families from St. Stephen came to share the Gospel with the inmates here to help them in the spiritual growth as well to give them food for their physical being. We really appreciate this noble gesture and we look forward to see them continue helping our prisoners.”

One of the female prisoners who spoke at the lunch said she was glad that she has eaten nice meal that she misses since her imprisonment and expressed desire to see St. Stephen coming back to cheer them up. 

Evangelist Andrew Palau, Don Moen Coming For Love Malawi Festival in August

Andrew Palau

Love Malawi Festival is set to unite hundreds of Churches and Christians in the Capital Lilongwe in the month of August as renowned world evangelist Andrew Palau is coming to preach the Gospel of Hope in Malawi and with him will be a celebrated Christian Worship music singer, Don Moen.

Evangelist Palau is coming to Malawi at the invitation of Churches and leaders in partnership with Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), an umbrella body for more than one hundred Churches and Christians Organisations and over fifty Evangelical Churches.

This festival is considered as very significant evangelistic effort to foster unity, hope, and love in Malawi’s capital of Lilongwe.

Mkandawire

Reverend Francis Mkandawire, General Secretary for the EAM said at a media briefing jointly held with Palau in Lilongwe on Monday that this festival is a great opportunity that God has given to Malawi of taking the Gospel to people. 

“We are looking forward to this wonderful time to provide opportunity for our nation to hear the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ” he said and urged Malawians not to miss it

This historical Love Malawi Festival will reach its pinnacle on August 20-21, where Evangelist Palau will deliver the message and main stage music by Don Moen and other artists. There will also be Action Sports BMX and FMX stunt demonstrations by professional athletes including family fun Zone for Children.

 

Professional stunts and athletes will come 

However, the festival is s expected to be launched within each church between May and June followed by Pastor’s Enrichment Conference towards the end of May as well as friendship evangelism trainings in June and July.

Rev. Mkandawire said this will be exciting event because the local church will be empowered in many ways particularly that thousands are expected to be trained in personal evangelism and be helped to understand their role in prayer and leading people to Jesus.

“We highly recommend the evangelist Palau and his team” said Mkandawire who mentioned that EAM and various Church leaders have been attending Palau festivals in several African cities and were encouraged to see how Palau festivals are done

“Palau team is comprised of very seasoned evangelists who teach sound Biblical teachings, their emphasis is on Christ and what Christ can do in our lives” He explains, adding, “and their coming to Malawi will bring good message of Jesus Christ and it will be a refreshing to the nation and we look forward to that.” 

Evangelist Palau said was excited to partner with local churches to lift high the name of Jesus and serve together in reaching out to every member of the community in Malawi.

“We are believing God for historic work in Malawi” said Palau, “He has directly called us to be his ambassadors and we are so excited to join with believers in this great nation to lift up the wonderful name of Jesus Christ”

Among others, Palau said the goals for the festival are to further unity, give motivation and hope for the hearts of the next generation.

“We want to encourage and activate in all of us a heart of sacrificial service, a love for others around us, and a life marked by right living, holiness, which leads to Gods many promised blessings and benefits.” He said 

“What we would really love to see at the end of the event is that all of God’s people would be further unified, loving each other, growing in the heart of compassion and expressing heart of love and service for the community, we want to see the young people encouraged with the vision for the future and we really would love people to hear this message that God loves you as an individual and the nation of Malawi.” He added

A son of world evangelist and author, Luis Palau, Andrew has shared the Gospel with millions of people around the world. Through Luis Palau Association Worldwide ministry the festivals brings a powerful evangelistic opportunity to cities around the globe through family-friendly events bringing together hundreds of churches in a strong expression of unity while equipping thousands of believers to share their faith.

Andrew has led festivals across United States of America as well as Europe and Love Malawi Festival marks his eighth campaign in Africa. His recent festivals in Africa include: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (2014); Adis Ababa, Ethiopia (2013); Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (2012); Bujumbura, Burundi (2011); Kampala Uganda (2010); Kigali, Rwanda (2009); and Cairo, Egypt (2008). 

According to Rev. Grey Mwalabu, Love Malawi Festival Coordinator, the very first weeks of August there will be satellite festivals in Zomba, Blantyre, Ntcheu, Mzuzu and Dzaleka Refugee Camp followed by affinity outreach events for business and civic leaders, prisons outreaches, evangelistic sports clinics, eyeglass and medical clinics.

Andrew Palau partner evangelists will also be presenting the Good News throughout the weeks of the festival at public festival events and that local civic and business leaders, media and sports celebrities and others in the faith community will share their testimonies in the various festival venues.

MAM Investing In Irrigation Farming With Middle East Partners Support

Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) is ready to invest in Irrigation farming with support from Middle East.

The local Islamic body disclosed this on Thursday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe when meeting President Peter Mutharika to introduce their visitor from, Revival Islamic Heritage Society of Kuwait, Chairperson for Africa, Sheikh Dr. Jasim Al-Ainati. The Middle East delegate is in the country on distribution of relief and food items to flood victims and supervise projects they are funding trough MAM.

Chairperson for Trustees of MAM, Sheik Ali Kenedy, told president Mutharika that the visitation of their Middle East delegate will benefit both Malawi Muslims and Government 

“If government can ask anything, our delegate from Meddle East is ready to support”

It was later elaborated by Sheik Dinala Chabulika, Publicity Secretary for MAM after close discussions with President Mutharika that the Middle East delegate through Revival Islamic Heritage Society of Kuwait is willing to support Malawi in ending hunger by responding to Government desire to see more investments in the irrigation farming.

“As you are aware, Government is encouraging investments in irrigation farming so that we stop heavy reliance in the rain-fed agriculture, our delegate is willing to bring big investments in agriculture especially in irrigation farming across the country.” Confirmed Chabulika 

Earlier, President Peter Mutharika said he is delighted with long and steady cordial relationship that exists between MAM and Government.

He said current relationship is vital because both Government and MAM are working together supporting Malawians.

“My government and the Muslim Association of Malawi have long standing cordial relationship. Together we contribute to the fullness of humanity, by providing for the body and the soul. Let me assure you of my personal support, and that of my government to you, and that the good working relationship which has existed between my government and the Muslim community, will continue for the benefit of all Malawians,” he said.

“It is important that we hold our hands together for the development of this country” said Mutharika emphasizing that everyone must take part in providing solution to challenges facing the country.

In his remarks Sheikh Jasim Al-Ainati, commended good bilateral relations between Governments of Malawi and of Kuwait which he said is traced way back during Guulf wars when Malawi supported Kuwait earnestly.

He said it was through this background that Kuwait Government and the Revival Islamic Heritage Society of Kuwait did not hesitate to respond to floods and drought calamity faced by Malawi early January, 2015.

He therefore promised unwavering support to Malawi problems.

Sheikh Al-Ainati is visiting the country to distribute food and relief items to victims of floods across the country and to supervise all MAM projects supported by Revival Islamic Heritage Society of Kuwait which includes construction of Mosques, boreholes among others.

Malawi SDA Church Meets President Mutharika: Commit To Support Govt In Development

The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church assures Government of total support to the development of Malawi.

The delegation of the church leadership was on Thursday meeting President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe with an aim of introducing to him the newly transitioned leadership from SDA Malawi Union Mission to the SDA Malawi Conference Union.

When introducing the new leadership, President for the SDA Malawi Union Conference Pastor Frackson Kayoma said SDA church will continue to work with Government in various development projects that the church is implementing countrywide.

He said apart from spiritual services, the SDA church is supporting Government through various projects and programmes including offering education, health and women welfare and rights services.

Said Kayoma, "Seventh Day Adventist Church under this new leadership is committed to work with you in the development of this nation"

He assured the president of the church earnest prayers for the good leadership and health and also thanked Mutharika for guaranteeing the Church freedom of worship.

"We thank you, Your Excellency for providing us conducive environment of freedom of worship in this country. This assures us that we have a God fearing leader" he added

In his remarks president Mutharika commended the SDA church for its number of development projects which are supporting his government goals and aspirations.

"As Government, we will do all we can to improve the welfare of the people" he said

"Government recognises the role of the church for both spiritual and wellbeing of the people.

My Government will continue to create space for churches to worship freely"

He also congratulated the SDA Church for the transition from SDA Malawi Union Mission to the SDA Malawi Conference Union. He said this shows that the church is going on the path for self independence.

The SDA Church since  12th June 2015 transitioned from SDA Malawi Union Mission to the SDA Malawi Conference Union. The transition means that the SDA Church in Malawi is independent in its affairs.