The Plan

This November, our small team, has the rare opportunity to visit the Mennonite Brethren churches in Malawi in order to respond to their request for training and equipping of pastors and lay leaders, and to help develop a long-term, sustainable training program.

If you are a friends, old or new, please consider this an invitation for your much needed prayers before and during the trip. If you would like to contribute financially, that would be most welcome, but please do not feel compelled by our friendship to do so.

Malawi Background

Malawi is experiencing new political stability under the leadership of Joyce Banda (yes, Malawi has a female President). Malawi is one of the poorest nations in Africa, with an average income of $900/year.

Christians number about 80% of the population, but the Church in Malawi continues to struggle with syncretism. Elements of tribal religions and folk Islam are prominent in the lives of many people.
One of the greatest challenges facing the church continues to be in the area of Biblical education and leadership training.

The Task

Our team consists of Ingrid Reichard (focus on biblical & leadership training), Richard Hellinga (focus on business coaching/development), and Nzuzi Mukawa, leader from the DR Congo, MB Mission rep (expertise in the African context).

The task given to our small team is:

·        Discern the training/equipping needs of the church leaders

·        Establish a Pastors’ library (we are bringing 100 lbs of books in our suitcases)

·        Develop a proposal for a 2-3 year curriculum for the Malawi pastors

·        Provide coaching in small business ventures

·        Investigate the possibility of a micro-loan plan

·        Enable the churches to help themselves and be independent of foreign aid in the long run

Detailed Schedule

Nov 6              - arrive in Blantyre, Malawi’s second largest city, pop. over 650 thousand

Nov 7-9           - visit local small business people from the church, assess micro-loan feasibility,
  assess the feasibility of their business plans, provide business coaching

Nov 10            - worship in an MB Church in Blantyre

Nov 11-15       - 5 days in all-day biblical teaching, sermon prep training, leadership training to a group

  of about 30 pastors, gathered from all of Malawi

Nov 16            - worship in an MB Church in Blantyre

Nov 17            - meet with a smaller group of leaders to prepare the proposal for biblical
  and leadership training and on-going business coaching

Nov 18            - depart Malawi – arrive in Toronto on Nov 19

Prayer Needs

-  Physical safety during travel and stay in Malawi

-   Health (Malaria and Hepatitis are common)

-   Logistical details – travel, luggage, lodgings, training facility rental, equipment…that delays and frustrations would be limited

-   Wisdom to know what to teach – books of the bible, topics (e.g. Covenant), leadership issues (e.g. conflict resolution, marks of a godly leader), sermon preparation skills, church governance etc. etc.

-   Sensitivity to God’s voice and direction in the moment

-   Grace to receive favour in the eyes of the church leaders and all the people we meet

-    Adequate funds to cover on-ground training expenses, extra funds to buy clothes for children and to cover unexpected needs

-   Wisdom to know how best to help without creating unhealthy dependencies

-    For the nation of Malawi – below are the lyrics of their national anthem – please pray these words for the people of Malawi

O God bless our land of Malaŵi,
Keep it a land of peace.
Put down each and every enemy,
Hunger, disease, envy.
Join together all our hearts as one,
That we be free from fear.
Bless our leader, each and every one,
And Mother Malaŵi.

Financial Needs (in US dollars)

-         1,500   Cost of travel for 30 pastors to the city of Blantyre (about $50/person)

-         1,000   Food for all those in training (we will be cooking it, this is the cost of purchase only)

-            500   Rental cost of the training/lodging facility for everyone for 5 days

-            500   Various supplies – notebooks, pens and shelving for the new Pastors’ Library,
            which is an answered prayer for them   

-            500   Funds to locally purchase clothes and shoes for children
            (many come naked to the church asking for clothes), fabric for women
            who want to start a sewing business, dress shirts for pastors etc.

    $4,000   TOTAL

To contribute financially please write a tax-deductible cheque to The Dwelling Place with Malawi in the comment line. Cheques can be mailed or dropped off at

The Dwelling Place
546 Belmont Ave West,
Kitchener, ON, N2M 5E3