Today we had the Official Opening & Dedication of our latest church plant, Hope Baptist Church, Nasedegu.
It was a day of celebration with over 600 adults and children attending, from many villages. Our church in Kachere was present, as well as several others from different villages.
Pastor Ed preached the Word from 2 Chronicles 7, where the Lord responded to Solomon and told him what should the people do in order for their prayers to be listened every time they pray.
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
The church is not a man’s invention, but God’s. Jesus is the Head of the Church and God will protect and preserve it (Matt. 16:18). The church is made out of true worshippers who worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). The church is not the building but the belivers, “living stones being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 2:5).
Before all the people in Nasedegu, before all the visitors from near and far, before the chief and, more importantly, before the Lord, we have committed and dedicated the building to the work of the Lord in Nasedegu. It will be a place where children of God will worship and praise God, give thanksgiving to Him and lift up prayers. We will read, teach, preach, hear, listen to and obey the Word of God. It will be the place where the Lord’s ordinances will be followed and where sinners will be able to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
With great joy I announce today that the building for our church in Nasedegu is completed. The whole construction process has been a rollercoaster, but we were blessed with dedicated men and women from the village who stayed faithful and continued to help through any circumstances.
The first time I told you about the beginning of the work in Nasedegu was back in November 2017. I reported then that during the first week of October we had visited the village again, knocking on doors and culminating everything with the Jesus movie. Soon after that, end of 2017 – beginning of 2018, Nasedegu fell back into the grips of the demonic activities that plague Africa, with people accusing others of vampirism. Several passing vehicles were stoned and it simply became too dangerous to go anymore. At one point someone in the village told us it is not safe for us to go there.
October 2017. Kids were curious to see white people.October 2017. The Jesus movie, the first movie most people ever saw.
Back in March last year the attendance was low but faithful, numbering 5 adults and a few kids. We met under a tree and I continued to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Light who came into this dark world.
February 2018. Church under a tree.
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. In May 2018, I wrote an article, titled: “Come and help us!“. Villages like Nasedegu – where there were no Christians and no churches before – are everywhere in Malawi, Africa and in the rest of the world. While we look for comfort, safety and an overall easy life, souls are dying without Christ every single day. May the Lord awaken us.
Later that month, still in May 2018, we had our very first baptism in Nasedegu and 11 people publicly confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior. There has never been a baptism in this place before and this 11 people were the first to understand and respond to the call of Jesus! Oh what a day that was!!!
May 27, 2018. First ever baptism in Nasedegu.
As the planting of the church in Nasedegu was ongoing, now we needed a church building, a place of worship where the new brothers and sisters in Christ could meet, have fellowship with one another and with God. In October 2018 we officially started the work. Since then, we had ups and downs, many reasons to stop or slow down but we’ve always resumed and, by God’s grace and the help of those who contributed towards this project, we are now finished. Actually, almost finished!
October 2018. Working on the foundation for the new church building.
The story of work in Nasedegu is not over yet, actually most of it is still in the future. This month, Lord willing, we will have the “Official Opening of the Church in Nasedegu”, a special day set aside to dedicate the building and the people to the Lord!
Still in the future, the people will choose a pastor!!! In the future the church will grow!!! In the future there will be another Evangelism!!! In the future there will be more baptisms!!! In the future the church will plant another church!!! In the future…
We don’t know what the future holds, but we know He who holds the future. If He does not come to take us home, the future will always be bright for those who love God and serve Him. I didn’t say always easy, I said always bright.
I often compared the work God is doing with a train traveling to its destination. At times, the Conductor allows us to hop on and be a part of something great! The train will go on and God’s work is going to be done, I guess the only question is if I am with Him or I stayed behind?
For the next 1 month we’re going to enjoy the company of 2 dedicated young men, John and Austin, who came with the GA team and stayed behind to help us a bit more.
Both of them have been here before; John has been coming since 2014 and Austin since 2015. They love working with the kids and doing Sports Camps. This time around, they’re here to see the inner workings of the ministry, the behind the scenes aspect of Hope for the Future. They’re here to help me and to help my team.
Internship at Hope for the Future is not always easy; the pay is nonexistent, the hours are crazy and the conditions are below what you’d expect, but the reward is eternal. The boys will get a taste of what mission work is all about when there are no mission teams around. They will also see what it means to live in a third world country.
We truly appreciate when young people like John and Austin (and others who came before them), sacrifice their money and time to do something that counts. There are many ways you could spend your summer, but only one which truly matters: for God!
“And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.“
Mark 6:31
Dear faithful ministry partners, after 11 years of full-time ministry here on the continent of Africa, we believe the time has come to take a sabbatical, a longer period of time used for rest and recovery. Every time we went to Romania or the US, it was on furlough, and we could barely dedicate 1 week for some sort of rest. It almost always seemed like our time “off” was more hectic and busy than back in Africa. If you’ve been following the updates about our family, than you most certainly know about our numerous health issues, about the fight with the fake medicine and the rest of the difficulties we’ve been experiencing in the recent 1-2 years. Under the guidance from several men of God I trust, including Pastor Keith, my pastor in Romania and also other board members of Hope for the Future, we have decided to take anywhere between 6 months to 1 year off, away from Malawi. During this time, the ministry in Malawi will continue under Stanley, Samuel, Tendai and Misozi. These are 4 capable and trained locals who have been prepared exactly for times like this one and I am confident they will do an amazing job. I’ve put together the 5 “R”s, showing what we will do during our sabbatical:
Rest. We will take time to rest, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Year after year we’ve spent ourselves, not only 6-8 hours per day, but truly 24/24. Every time the phone rings, irrespective of the time of the day or night, we are always ready to help those who are in need.
Renew. Giving to others and giving ourselves to others we’ve sometimes felt that our relationship with the Lord and within our family was on a secondary position. We will use this time to renew our relationship with the Father, as well as our relationships within the family.
Reflect. The last 11 years were filled with ups and downs, many good things and a few not so good. We’ve had many blessings but also a fair share of trials. Many times we felt we were trapped in a certain rhythm, almost on autopilot. These months of rest will give us time to reflect on what God has done through us, what we have done and what needs to be done in the future.
Recharge. We will use this time to recharge our batteries and get ready for what the future holds. We will listen to sermons – and not only preach, we will ready books, we will study the Word and we will even take some trips in nature, enjoying the beautiful creation God has made.
Rev. Our life of ministry is not ending, quite the opposite, it will continue for as long as God keeps us alive. This time will allow us to rev up our engines, in preparation for the next stage in our ministry.
As I mentioned before, throughout these years of ministry we have trained a good number of local people who can continue to make sure the ministry in Malawi glorifies God and helps the people. We have people in place for every aspect of the ministry. Stanley is responsible for the Primary School, for the administration and he can pretty much do anything else, as he is also the local director. Samuel is responsible for the Bible Training Center, for “Farming God’s Way” and he is also an excellent driver who can take our mission teams anywhere and everywhere. Tendai is responsible for the Feeding Centers and Misozi will continue to oversee the Bible Clubs we have, including the 2 new ones in Nasedegu and Bwanali. Pastor Joseph Mtambo is overseeing the ministry in Kachere while pastor Simion and his wife are keeping an eye on the ministry in Mpyupyu. Pastor Katerere is always making sure all the local pastors are informed when we have Pastors Meetings or Pastors Conferences and he is also ensuring our students come to the Bible Training Center. All these faithful people have been doing this for several good years now, and they are experienced and prepared.
Pastor Keith Joseph from First Baptist will be ready to assist Stanley in case he needs help or advice and different people will be coming here on and off while we are away. All the mission teams will be able to continue to come and serve, without any interruptions or problems. As you are reading this, I am putting together a document which will have instructions for every aspect of the ministry, in case someone needs or wants to know all the details. Should there be any emergencies, I will be ready to help in any way.
As far as our family goes and as far as I am concerned, this transition will not be an easy one, as for the past 11 years I don’t think there was a single minute where the ministry in Malawi was not my main concern. The ministry is the Lord’s and I know I have to put feet to that reality. We have total peace about this and we know this is God’s will for our life, even if at times the thought of “rest” really scares me. I do have questions which I can’t answer unless I say “The Lord will provide”. These questions are: “What will happen here?”, “What if the money doesn’t come in?”, “How will we survive?” and so on. We have to trust our Lord just like we’ve trusted him for over a decade and I know that, just like He did it until now, He will continue to provide. In Leviticus 25 God gave the command to Israel regarding the Sabbatical Year. Probably just like us, there were many who worried, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” God’s response was supposed to give them peace and it gives us peace as well, “Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years.” We believe that God will provide.
This sabbatical period will not mean only rest but a lot more than that; there are many aspects of our lives which were delayed just because of our need to be here in Malawi all these years. Our home needs repairs, Lita’s Romanian papers need to be done, as well as the US citizenship for our 3 kids. Even more, since last year I am on the board of Hope for the Future Romania and I will be using this time to help and be a blessing to the ministry and men who are on the team, one of whom has just started to raise his own support.
If you have reached this point in my article, Thank you! Would you please bear with me for a couple more minutes while I talk to you about money. First and foremost, our prayer and humble request is that every one of you will continue to support our family and ministry. Here is what we are asking you to personally do during this time: continue to pray faithfully for the ministry and pray for us; continue to financially support both the ministry and the family. Every aspect of the ministry in Malawi will continue and nothing will be shut down or slowed down: the 173 orphans will continue to eat twice a day, every day; the 740 kids (soon to be 900) will continue to receive their education; 16 young men will continue to attend the Bible Training Center; then there are the expenses related to the Camps, Bible Clubs, churches in need, staff, team, volunteers, fuel, electric, taxes, taxes, taxes (TIA), etc. Pray also about increasing the level of your support and last, but not least, ask God for the expansion of the reach of the Gospel in Africa.
Below this paragraph I’ve started a Donation Form, a way for you to be a blessing if the Lord so leads you. This is what you need to do: The first step is to choose the currency (USD or Euros) and the amount, which is either predefined ($10, $20, $50 or $100) or custom. If you want this donation to be recurring for the duration of our sabbatical, you can choose that option. Next up is the payment method; currently we have 2 options for you: PayPal (quick and easy way to send money online, you can use your debit/credit card, no account required) or Offline Donation (cheques). If you choose the latter, you will be given a couple of options where you can send your cheque(s). If you choose PayPal, then you will be directed to their website where you can complete the transaction, as soon as you fill in your Name, Last Name and Email Address. At the end just press the “Donate Now” button. We are grateful for your support; may God bless you and reward you.
For any questions, informations or even invitations to speak at your church, please contact me here. My Prayer Letters will continue, with the exception of a 3 month break starting with November (you can sign up here). Same goes for articles on this blog.
Today Stanley, Samuel and I visited a new church, in a village called Ntoliwa. This is part of a district called Phalombe.
We have been working with pastor Macfreson Mokowa for more than 1 year now but I have not yet visited them, due to the work with the new church plants in Nasedegu and Bwanali. This church was planted in 1999 and they have no one to visit and help them.
Hope Baptist Church, Ntoliwa
Initially, I wanted to preach from 1 Thessalonians 4: 1-12, urging the people, just like Paul did, to “do more and more” in these 2 important areas: sanctification and brotherly love. Half way through my preaching the Holy Spirit told me that some people in the church are dead, that is spiritually dead. I changed the sermon, preached the Gospel, talked about sin, God and eternity and 7 people got saved today! Praise the Lord!!!
Born again
Be in prayer for this church, for pastor Mokowa and for these 7 ladies who started walking with Jesus today. From left to right, these are their names: Back row, from the lady in white: Tamala, Patricia, Felesta and Ethel. Front row, from the lady in blue: Esther, Joyce and Esther again.
Below you have an interactive map with all the mission points we have across Malawi. You can zoom using the + and – buttons in the lower left corner, you can drag the map around with your mouse or finger, you can click on a point to see more about it, you can reveal a list of all the point if you click on the top left icon and you can even make it full screen by pressing on the top right icon.
Today, April 17, we’re remembering Tom Gentry and the legacy he left behind when he moved to glory, some 8 years ago. Today, he would’ve been 70.
Tom Gentry came as a missionary to Romania back in 1993 and started the ministry of Hope for the Future Romania (Speranță pentru Viitor). Three years later, the Lord expanded the ministry into a neighboring country, Moldova. Again, after another three years, God opened his doors for a new continent, a new world and a great deal of new opportunities: Malawi, Africa.
He was a missionary and he was a mighty man of God. To us, he was also a father, a mentor and an example to learn from. He taught me many things, the chief of which was this: “Find God’s will and do it!”
Tom Gentry, preaching to the children of Romania
Although even now I remember the phone call announcing his passing, I am grateful for heaven and for the promise of eternity. He has gone where we’re all looking forward to go to. He’s not dead, he is more alive than I’ll ever be here on earth!
His passing was hard on us but God used it to teach me a valuable lesson: God is all I need.
The legacy of Hope for the Future continues, so does the work of bringing the hope of Jesus to a lost and dying world. The work continues in Romania and this year, again, thousands of children and youth will hear the message of the Gospel. The work continues here in Malawi, stronger than ever before.
Tom Gentry and I, in 2008, right before we came to Malawi
Although it is my honor to remember “Brother Tom”, how most people affectionately called him, I am not in the business of staying in the past; quite the opposite, we’re looking into the future! I am grateful for the vision God gave me to continue the work and I look forward to see how God will be glorified in the lives and hearts of the people we serve.
I’m grateful for the people that God placed in our lives right now, people who help us and enable us to reach further than we’ve ever dreamed. I’m grateful for all the mission teams, for all the churches and for all the individuals who continue to support the work. I’m grateful for Pastor Keith who was God sent exactly when we, and the ministry, needed him the most.
So today we’re grateful for who Tom Gentry was and the work God did through him. Also today, we’re looking in the future, for our team’s name is “Hope for the Future”.
Tom Gentry, Malawi 2009. He was getting ready to preach the Gospel. That was his life’s goal. May that be ours, as well.
Today we resumed the classes here at the Tom Gentry Bible Training Center in Zomba, Malawi, Africa. This time around, we don’t have foreign teachers here and I am not doing the teaching either, but we’re using recorded lessons done by some good teachers: Micheal, Danny and Nate.
So far, the students seem to enjoy them and they should, the quality of the lessons are just as high.
The lessons this week are: Common Grace, Election & Reprobation, Gospel Call and Effective Calling, Doctrine of Salvation – Regeneration, Conversion, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, Filling of the Holy Spirit, Perseverance of the Saints, Death and the Intermediate State, Glorification, Union with Christ, The Church, Doctrine of the Church, Marks of a Healthy Church, Purity and Unity of the Church, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Worship and Spiritual Gifts.
As you can see, there is a lot of good stuff for them this week, that is why we are asking you to pray for them; pray not only for learning and understanding, but also for true wisdom so they can apply everything they learn to their lives and ministry.
In the beginning of this month Malawi was hit by some powerful winds and heavy rains. Later on, that strange weather phenomenon developed into what now is known as the Tropical Cyclone “Idai”. Many homes, gardens and some churches collapsed or were severely affected.
Exactly that is the situation with our church in the village of 7 (Seven). In this place, far away from towns and civilization, we have a church of more than 150 members on fire for God. These people love the Lord, love the ministry and can hardly wait for the next Sunday to come so they can meet and praise Jesus.
The building of this church was recently affected and not it poses a danger for our brothers and sisters. I would really love to help them with a new one, made with cement and not mud, with proper burnt bricks and a solid foundation. I want them to have a metal roof and not one made out of dry grass.
We need your help for that. If you can donate any amount, please use the form below, filling in the amount, mode of payment, your first and last names and the email address. At the end, press the “Donate Now” button.
For your convenience, you can also donate using any other means found on the page “Give” or directly via PayPal.
Whatever the amount or whichever mode of payment you use, please know that your help will be truly appreciated and beneficial to our brothers and sisters in the village of 7. May God bless you.
The form is not published.
Sadly, not only the church has been destroyed but also the only road leading to it, which means at this time I do not have better pictures. This one and the video below were sent to us by our student in the village.
Pictures from the past: In 7, together with a team.In 7 again, with another team.Evangelistic Camp.Evangelistic Camp.The building was full, with people waiting outside.Women choir.Youth group.On the right, Pastor Ndaona (which means “I see”).Lady in the church, following in the Bible.A man in the church, faithful in prayer.Me with the youth leader in 7.This is how the church used to look like.
This week we’re having the 4th week of studies at our Bible Training Center here in Zomba. Pastor Cary from FBC, Jackson is here and he is teaching Revelation, Daniel and Christian Ethics.
As always, we need your prayers for everyone involved in this ministry. Pray for Pastor Cary that the Lord will give him wisdom and clarity in speech. Pray for the students, that they may understand the lessons and learn how to apply them in their day to day lives, as they get ready for a life of ministry. Pray for the cooks, that the food they prepare may strengthen everyone so that we may serve the Lord.
Monday, March 4, it will be our blessing to host two amazing young people, Kent & Grace Shader, who are coming from MO, USA. I met Grace years ago while I visited a supporting church in the state of Missouri. I met both of them again last year and they told me about their desire to come see the ministry in Malawi and help us in any way they can.
We’ve opened up our ministry for this internship program years ago. Our desire is to introduce young people to the work in Africa and bring them to a point where, after seeing the needs and the opportunities on the mission field, they can answer this simple question: “Lord, do you want me to do anything about these?” Should the answer be yes, we simply want them to say: “Lord, here I am, send me!“.
As veteran missionaries on the field, we believe we can help any intern see Africa how it really is, not like the National Geographic or movies on TV portrays it. Africa is beautiful, probably unlike anything else on the planet, but Africa also desperately needs the Gospel. Someone said that for every 100 ministers in the US we have less than 1 in Africa. Let that sink in for a minute.
With all this in mind, we welcome Kent and Grace to Malawi and to the ministry of Hope for the Future. They will stay with us for almost 1 month and, during that time, I will share with them my vision and the work God has blessed us with.
Pray for them. Pray for open ears to the still voice of the Holy Spirit. Pray they will know if this is the place they need to come full time. If it’s not supposed to be Malawi, pray this trip will be the launching pad to whatever the place God wants them to go, for Jesus told us all to GO.
