For month 5 of the world race, my team and I have been in Zomba, Malawi. We have partnered with a nonprofit organization, Harvesters Ministries. Harvesters Ministries is a church planting ministry, opening the way for the world to know Jesus. The vision for this ministry started in 1998 and by 2000, the first churches were planted in Malawi and Zambia. Harvesters engages indigenous, qualified pastors, who have an evangelical heart, with a high regard for Scripture and a passion for the Great Commission; and trains them in evangelism, discipleship, rapid multiplication church planting and pastoral training.
The Harvesters Hub Church Planting Model was designed by Steven Loots with the fulfillment of the Great Commission in mind, strategically mapping out the way to bring the Gospel to every nation through evangelism, discipleship and saturation church planting. Harvesters trains a local as the pastor for every new church, usually in their home language and within one day’s travel of their new church. No salaries are paid, but tuition is free for the student pastors. Harvesters works across denominational boundaries
Their vision is to plant 1 million churches, to train 1 million pastors, and evangelize and disciple 100 million believers by 2025. Harvesters is multiplying churches around the globe at an increasing rate. Instead of in buildings, they’re planting God’s Word in the most accessible location of all – the human heart. This is how they make the Gospel accessible to more people. By bringing it directly to them. If this sounds familiar, it is. This is how Jesus led the early church.
My team and I have spoken in churches a lot during our time in Malawi. We share messages and encourage the people of the church. You’d think the people that we’re speaking to are the ones who are learning, but they’re not the only ones. I have learned so much from preaching and living in their culture. How they live, serve, praise, and worship are so inspiring and beautiful. Malawians think they can learn so much from us, but we can learn so much from them as well. We have so much to learn from our friends, family, loved ones, those around us in our daily lives, and even from strangers. We will always be learners. Learning how to become more like Christ.
That’s all for now. Until next time(:
Yours in Christ,
Karrie
