MEET HUGO NGWIRA........... MUMC OFFICE MANAGER

By John Nyadaufe MUMC Publications

 Blantyre - Malawi 

Date 30 November, 2012

Since October 2011, the office of the Malawi United Methodist Church (MUMC) Conference Superintendent has been hoarded from having many files of emails and documents about church projects. Why this is so? There is someone who is working next to this office to handle all the communications and project documentation on behalf of the superintendent. Meet Hugo Ngwira the Office Manager in the Malawi United Methodist Church. Hugo Ngwira is a young man born in the family of nine children where seven of them are boys and 2 girls. 

“I am happy to work for the church in communicating with partners as well as coordinating church projects.  This is good and I appreciate the United Methodist Church of the Church of Resurrection (COR) for their support to the church and to me,” said Ngwira while smile.

He continued that the MUMC and COR are more than partners but family members.

Many thanks to COR for your support to Malawi UMC !!!!!

Hugo Ngwira, the Office Manager

Hugo has assisted in many ways.

Six Motorcycles for Six Circuits

Edgar Luken, Malawi UMC Missionary

29th October, 2012

Blantyre, 

Traveling to the far ends of their Circuits has always been and will always be the toughest challenge for our pastors in the fields who serve up to 20 preaching points.

Now six out of 22 Circuits have received some relief for their pastors.

One of our partners in the USA, the Church of Resurrection (COR), donated the funds for purchasing strong Suzuki motorcycles.

All Malawi UMC pastors and a COR delegation were present at the roll-out of the motorcycles  last week in Lilongwe.

In a brief ceremony at the suppliers’ branch in the Capital, the people present expressed their overwhelming gratitude: towards our Lord who has brought us thus far, and towards each other in His vineyard.

It is our sincere prayer that our Lord may always protect the driving on rough paths and may turn the blessing of few into a blessing for many.

Pastors admiring their new motorcycles

Pastors posing with the new motorbike

Pastor Rose Chitsonga can afford a smile after a new motor bike

Malawi UMC Model Nursery School

By John Nyadaufe MUMC Communicator

Blantyre.

Germany World Mission of the United Methodist Church (GWUMC) has pledged to continue supporting nursery schools run by the Malawi United Methodist church in the country as part of the early childhood development program which the church is currently doing with 15 nursery schools across the conference.

Speaking at the official opening of the United Methodist model nursery in

Blantyre on Friday the 5^th Oct, GWUMC General Secretary, Frank Aichele emphasized that the church will continue providing funding for construction of nursery schools in Malawi as one way of promoting early childhood development

In his statement, Aichele said that Germany World Mission provided support to the nursery school project following the bible teaching as caring for children since they are future church leaders and community leaders as well. He however advised MUMC leadership and the community around to take care of the school for it to have a positive outcome to the children.

“Use the school wisely for this to have a good impact to our children,” said Aichele.

Commenting on the development, Group Village Chief, Baluti paid a vote of thanks to the church through its partners from Germany for building a nursery school in his community which he observed will help children to get quality education at an early stage.

He promised to commit himself in all activities leading to the development of the school and pledged support for the school and said he would encourage his community to support the school by sending their children to the Methodist school.

Records indicates that the project had cost 10, 000 Euro and 13, 000 US Dollars which the United Methodist Church of Resurrection in Kansas, USA contributed on roofing the building.

Meanwhile there are 15 United Methodist Nursery Schools under the supervision of the church’s women’s ministry.

The nursery school building in Bantyre, Mpenya circuit

Some of the pupils at the school on the official opening day of the school

Rev. Frank Aichele addressing people during the opening ceremony

Aichele, officially opening the nursery school

Surrendering the Nursery school in God's Hands

MHONE THINKS DEEPER IN AGRICULTURE

MHONE THINKS DEEPER IN AGRICULTURE
By John Nyadaufe
Baptist Theological Center; Lilongwe

The Agriculture Manager in the Malawi United Methodist Church, Lester Mhone has asked the conference to employ two farm assistants to help him in operating the church farm in Mchinji.

The development erupted at the beginning of the first session of the church's Provisional Annual Conference held at Baptist Theological Seminar in Lilongwe on July 6, 2012.

Speaking when he was asked to elaborate on Agriculture report, Mhone said that the church can benefit from the farm if funding and potential workers are provided in time.

Mhone doing what he knows best in the farm(Picture MUMC file photo)

"The farm requires committed personnel to help me in operations so that we can have good outcome," said Mhone.

Responding to the development,  the Conference Office Manager, Hugo Ngwira agreed that the farm needs some individuals to work with Mhone.

He added that there is hope that one of the two students who are being trained in agriculture in Lilongwe will be recruited to help.

In delayed funds, Ngwira stated that the ministry involves many stages such as proposal confirmation for the funds to released from donors which sometimes takes time.

Ngwira advised that plans are in progress to have tangible projects on the farm to fulfill the manager's vision and dreams.

Agriculture is the major project which helps pastors in the MUMC provisional Conference to have enough food for their families through farm inputs implementations.

“Ready to teach the Church members in Giving” Nkhata

Kalondola Nkhata in the house

Nkhata (right) telling the house of his readiness

“Ready to teach the Church members in Giving” Nkhata.

The Newly appointed evangelist for the Malawi United Methodist Church, Kalondola Nkhata has announced his commitment to support the Council of Finance and Administration CONFAD through teachings on giving this year.

Nkhata made the remark when CONFAD chairperson, Francis Mzumara said many circuits in the conference are failing to complete their church assessment which is a major challenge for the council to collect enough money in church.

“I sacrifice myself to leave other jobs to teach people on giving so that this may not be a counted as a challenge in future,” said Nkhata.

Kalondola Nkhata has been an evangelist in the country since 1984 and he promises to support in making disciples of Jesus Christ in the Malawi United Methodist Church starting from thisyear.

Story By John Nyadaufe

Lilongwe Baptist Centre, Malawi

Pastors' children given hope of continued scholarship

Mrs Motera Mhone responding to the question. Picture taken By John Nyadaufe

Mr Daniel Kabunduli Nkhata Presenting the report in the house (John Nyadaufe Picture)

The first session of the Malawi Provisional Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church gives hope for continued education for pastors’ children as leaders agreed to source scholarships for them to continue their studies.

Presenting the 2011 to 2012 report to the annual conference, the Connectional Secretary Mr Daniel Kabunduli Nkhata said the women department will continue to support Pastors’ children who do not have adequate financial backing. The conference voted unanimously for the idea.

Commenting on the issue in the house, the Conference Women President, Moty Mhone said the program will help children especially girls who lacks financial support among pastors.

 “The scholarship will help pastors’ children who cannot afford to pay for their own ” said Mhone

Mrs Cecilia Kambona, a wife to Pastor Ephraim Kambona said the scholarship is a good development. “it will improve the level of education among Pastors children. I will also induce encouragement to pusue education among the beneficiaries” said Mrs Kambona.

Agreeing with Kambona was Pastor Peter Nethulu of Madisi circuit. He said most pastors children are not educated. “Many circuits fail to sponsor their pastors. This affects the educational life of their children in tht they can not get good and quality education” said Nethulu.

Advising the beneficiaries Kambona said the children receiving the scholarship should respond to the chance with hard work. “I always tell my daughter the children to work hard in school because opportunities like these are rare” said Kambona.

Nethulu concurred with Kambona saying the scholarship should be a source of encouragement to the children. “The children should not take the opportunity for granted” said Nethulu.

Both Nethulu and Kambona thank god for the opportunity of the scholarship that was an answer to the prayers of many people.

In conclusion the scholarship will improve the educational welfare of pastors” children. It will help pastors to minister the word of God without hassles.

Story by Noel Kumwenda

Lilongwe Baptist centre, Malawi