Just this morning, I’ve been talking with Gospel Life team members in Malawi, and I’ve been encouraged by their continued commitment to the gospel and to strengthening the churches of our Lord Jesus.
As you will read below, they are continuing our work despite very difficult circumstances, even more difficult than usual. Just as you always prayed for our family when we lived in Malawi, I hope you will continue to lift up Isaac and our other partners before the Lord regularly.
February Shepherds Academy
Next week, Pastor Maya of Unity Bible Church, Isaac, and Shepherds Academy graduate Patrick will be heading out toward the banks of Lake Chirwa to continue our Shepherds Academy trainings.
Our new model of Shepherds Academy requires a high level of commitment and buy-in on behalf of the pastors who attend our trainings. They must arrange for their own food and lodging near the public school buildings we utilize for our classes. This level of buy-in naturally filters out those who might attend such meetings out of impure motivations.
The men willing to make these sacrifices do so out of a commitment to learning God’s word. We provide them that opportunity by funding their learning materials and paying the expenses of the teachers to get to the region.
Everything is set to go for next week, except one problem—fuel. Malawi is currently facing a shortage of petrol, and Isaac has waited in lines for two days so far, hoping to get the needed fuel to reach the pastors next week. Pray this week that the Lord will provide for this need so that the training can continue.
Growth of Unity Bible Church
God continues to bless our partner church in Zomba, Unity Bible Church. Since their beginning, they have met in the conference room of a hotel near the University of Malawi, but they will not be able to continue this arrangement much longer. The church has been praying that God would give them a permanent home near the university.
We invite you to join them in praying for this provision. In coming days, we will share what opportunities the Lord provides and how we might be able to bless them in this significant step of faith.
Serving in Malawi
In 2025, we have a few supporting churches in the US sending pastors or teams to Malawi to bless our Gospel Life team. At my church, Overland Church, we are preparing a team of our Colorado State college students to go to Malawi to partner with fellow Malawian college students for evangelism and discipleship. Other pastors will be going to participate in Shepherds Academy as teachers.
If your church would ever like to know how to partner by serving in Malawi, please feel free to reach out to me by email.
Mozambique on Pause
Finally, I want to ask you to pray for the country of Mozambique. You will remember that in 2024 Isaac went to Mozambique and met with pastors who were eager to bring Shepherds Academy trainings to their side of the border.
In October, however, Mozambique held an election that the opposition party claims was fraudulent. Since then, the country has been disrupted by protests that have resulted in violence and a military crackdown.
The Mozambican pastors have advised us to delay launching Shepherds Academy until the political situation normalizes. Pray for Mozambique and its churches.
