I’ve learned a new appreciation for pastors in Malawi. We have been attending Kaning’ga CCAP (Central Church African Presbyterian). It is the church nearest our campus. It is a prominent church (even Malawi Parliament’s Speaker of the House is a member). But I discovered this past week that the church has about 8,000 communing members. That’s right – one regular size church – 8,000! It has 7 plants called prayer houses for which the pastor is responsible. He is jumping from one to the next. One of the plants actually meets in the federal prison and has hundreds of attendees. Everyday the pastor is doing funerals and visitation for funerals. Now, a humbling reality – 8,000 communing members, seven church plants, dozens and dozens of ruling elders, deacons, associations, and committees, mission teams, etc. Guess how many assistant pastors Kaning’ga has? ZERO! Needless to say I have offered to preach as often as they’ll have me in their church. They welcomed me and this week I’ll be preaching services at Chikaluti CCAP. Service begins at 6:30 a.m.! The Chichewa service is at 10 a.m. So, one of the goals I have at ABC will be to encourage as many as are gifted to consider the Lord’s call into pastoral work. Most of them will be paid in chickens or maize, but they’ll have plenty to keep them busy.
posted by: Sam
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