I have been traveling the world doing the Lord’s work continuously for 7 months. I’ve met several individuals and families fervently on fire for the Lord but have never come across a man as special and as humble as my host in Malawi. His name is Blessings Mtete.
Blessings grew up humbly in a small village outside of the capital city, Lilongwe. He was introduced to the Lord when he was 17 after slapping his classmate, a practicing Christian he witnessed turning the other cheek and deciding not to retaliate. Blessings was amazed at the Christ he saw in his classmate and after a series of events post that initial incident, he has been living for the Lord ever since. He has a beautiful wife and four beautiful children ranging from the ages of 23-16.
Years ago, Blessings established a church called Revival Christian Church where he Pastors and teaches. Although he is low key and a man of few words, when he speaks about the Word of God, he does so with extraordinary passion. You can tell his words are not empty. He knows what he is talking about. He knows God for himself. Pastor Blessings possesses many gifts but the Lord has gifted him with endurance and perseverance like I’ve never seen. Let me explain.
The first day we had ministry, Blessings walked over 20KM from his home to where we were staying just to walk another 5KM to get a bus to take us to a village church to pray for others. The roads here are mostly rocky dirt roads with hills and dust clouds that reach more than six feet at the slightest breeze. I have a hard time walking down the street to the store let alone over 12 miles! If I didn’t ask Blessings how he arrived to us, I would have never known. He does what is necessary, without complaint and with much joy. I was shocked but extremely amazed. After the first couple of days of ministry with him, I knew he was different… a man who truly relied on the Lord for EVERYTHING. After the first week of ministry, Blessings became very sick. He looked like he wasn’t going to make it another step if I am being honest. Through it all, Blessings eyes were on the Lord. He pushed through because he knew the Lord would be his strength and knew he had to bring the gospel to those who needed it at all cost. So that is exactly what he did.
For years, Blessings has traveled to villages in the mountains over 40KM away from his town to bring the good news (as well as clothing, food and shoes he has manages to scrape together) to those who have never heard the name Jesus. Because he has no means of transportation and no funds, he often walks the entire way (AND back) without food or water of his own. Blessings promised the chief of that village when my team came to Malawi, he would bring us to the village to encourage them. Blessings is a man of his word.
On our second Sunday in Malawi, Blessings, feeling and appearing very weak and dizzy, endured several hours in a small cramped truck to bring Bibles and encouraging words to those who hungered for the Lord. That day, Blessings couldn’t even walk without assistance. It was heart breaking but absolutely humbling to see. I couldn’t imagine the sickness and pain he felt in his body. All I remember him saying was “the program must go on as scheduled. They are waiting for us.” The village church he started was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed- a small shack filled with over a hundred villagers waiting for us with an unadulterated craving for the Lord- nothing like I’ve ever seen. Blessings eventually became healthier and when he was cured from his sickness, he credited the Lord and gave him all of the honor and the praise. We were relieved and thankful to God as well.
The way Blessings lives his life is the gospel. He understands he is the only Bible some villagers will ever read as some don’t know how to read and may never learn. He understands he has a huge task ahead of him and works tirelessly day in and day out to see the Kingdom of God expand in Malawi. Blessings has taken us to minister to and support the widows, love, sing and dance with the orphans, encourage a futbol team full of troubled young men, and do life with teenagers and young adults at a youth camp. Blessings doesn’t just visit these places when he has visitor like us. He evidently goes there often. Everyone we meet always has much to say about how he has helped them through the years and has been pivotal in their individual walks of faith. Amazing.
Blessings has blessed my team and me so much. But who is helping Blessings?
He does not receive a salary from his church. In fact, he doesn’t receive a salary anywhere. He sews all tithes and offerings directly back into the Kingdom to help his surrounding community. He has gone days without being able to feed himself or his family. Five years ago, he didn’t have enough money to make payments on his halfway built 2-bedroom home, built by Habitat for Humanity, so the organization sent representatives to remove his doors and windows. For months, his family and he lived in a home without anything covering the missing doors or windows because he couldn’t afford it. Presently, there are thin metal sheets that stand in the place his windows once were and a white curtain standing where they removed his door. The reason I know this is because he invited my team (10 women!) over to have rice, Nsima, veggies and field mice (yes, you heard correctly-another Malawian staple) with him. Blessings has nothing materially but is still the richest man I’ve ever met. However, I felt the Lord tell me to share his story and do whatever else I can in my power to help him.
The bible instructs us to carry one another’s burdens. We need to stand in the gaps and intercede on behalf of our brothers in their sufferings. For Blessings to finish building and paying for his home he’d need $1Million Kwacha. That is $2500 USD. To feed his family of 6 Nsima (a Malawian staple) for a month it costs $3000 Kwacha. That is $7.00 USD, less than one meal at a popular American fast food chain. If we should love our neighbors as ourselves, what would we want someone to do for us if we were hungry and not able to support our families while doing the work of God? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16). We can have faith that God will provide, but if we have 7 dollars we can spare in order to feed a family of 6 for a full month, what is stopping us from helping? With knowledge comes responsibility.
Please pray much for Blessings- for his continued health, provision, protection and increase for his family. He is not worried because he knows God will provide for him.. but sometimes God uses people like us to support. If you feel God telling you to support him, please send me a message and I can get the ball rolling. Currently, we are working on opening an internationally recognized bank account that will allow him to link a PayPal account to receive funds from anyone who’d like to support him. Even one dollar can and will go far. Blessings reaches so many in Malawi and beyond! Let’s stand with him so he can continue to be a Blessing to others. Are you blessed to be a blessing (to Blessings)? I pray you are.
XOXO,
Belle
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You can contact me at [email protected] for more information about how you can help Blessings. You can also contact Blessings directly via his e-mail address ([email protected]). Send him an encouraging message! When he is able to get access to his e-mail, he will read them all and trust me, he will be blessed.
