Feel the beat with music from Malawi!
Click
here
CLICK
HERE to order DVDs and CDs of the choir via the Internet as a credit card
order.
CLICK HERE for a poster to advertise the DVDs
and CDs in your congregation or CLICK
HERE for a small ad for your bulletin.
CLICK HERE for
three bulletin inserts that help your congregation understand the importance of
the Companion Synod relationship. Next item in this list, the order form, should
be duplicated on the back side of the inserts.
CLICK HERE
for
an order form to use as a bulletin insert or to use as the reverse side of the
bulletin insert series.
CLICK
HERE for an update on Malawi (bulletin insert for fall 2008)
Companion Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi
Malawi, Africa
Malawi
is a landlocked country in southern Africa and covers an area of 45,700
square miles. It is bordered by Tanzania to the north, Mozambique to the
east and south, and Zambia to the west. 
On
the east side of the country is one of the deepest lakes in the world,
Lake Malawi. It is the third largest fresh water lake in Africa.
The
land of Malawi rises to more than 8,000 feet in the Nyida Plateau, and
is rich in animal life. Several game parks protect antelope, elephants,
hippopotamuses, lions, giraffes and zebras.
The
economy is largely based on agriculture. Malawi has some of the most
fertile soil in South-Central Africa so maize (corn), potatoes, peanuts,
cassava, and plantains are grown. They are able to export tung for oil,
sunflower seeds, cotton, tea, tobacco, and peanuts.
The
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi
The
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Malawi was founded November 21, 1982 by
lay people who had become Lutheran while working in the neighboring
countries of Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The group, led by Mr.
Gilbert Msuku who had been in Tanzania for over twenty years, founded
the ELCM. The church, which began without any pastors or missionaries,
grew so rapidly that it had to request pastoral leadership from those
churches in the neighboring countries of Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South
Africa. These arrangements continued until 1987 when the ELCM ordained
its first three pastors. Currently the church has approximately 40,000
members in more that 200 congregations, which form 34 parishes, served
by 25 pastors.
The relationship between the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin and
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi began in 1991 when the then
Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi, Joseph P.
Bvumbwe, came to America to study for a masters degree in theology at
Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa.
While in America, Pastor Bvumbwe met Pastor Harold and Kathy
Oelschlager, who visited the ELCM in 1996. Pastor Bvumbwe had been
elected bishop of the ELCM in 1995.
Bishop
Berg and the church council decided to invite Bishop Bvumbwe to speak at
the 1997 synod assembly and to devote the assembly offering for
construction of a chapel somewhere in the ELCM. In 1998, Bishop
Berg and the synod church council applied to the ELCA Division of Global
Missions for a second companion synod, namely, the ELCM. In 1999,
the application was granted.
The
companion relationship was furthered in 2000 when the Rev. James
Magelssen, assistant bishop for Northwest Synod, headed a delegation of
eight to the ELCM.
On
February 16th and May 11th, 2002, Bishop Berg and Bishop Bvumbwe led
workshops to guide congregations from the synod who were being matched
with a parish in Malawi. A similar workshop was held in Malawi with
pastors and church leaders. Over 36 congregations are now building
relationships with a sister parish in Malawi.
Rev
Duane Pederson, of First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, accepts a
Certificate of Companionship from Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe. Maria Bvumbwe
accepts an identical certificate for Salima Parish.
Diakonia Ministries
In
2002, in response to severe hunger and famine in Malawi, the ELCM began
the Department for Diakonic Services. The NW Synod has responded with
gifts of money to help fund the work of this department, particularly
with the feeding centers for orphaned/needy children. As the HIV/Aids
pandemic continues in Africa, the assistance of Diakonic Services will
continue to be required. Two-thirds of the Quarter Offering to be taken
at the 2004 Synod Assembly will be sent to this ministry of the ELCM.
Bishop
Joseph Bvumbwe and Mabel Madinga, head of Diakonic Services, inspect
medical kits donated by Immanuel Lutheran Church, Eau Claire. The
vehicles displayed carry medical supplies, seeds, fertilizer, and food
for orphans to the feeding centers. The center vehicle was also a gift
from Immanuel.
As
Evangelical
Lutheran
Church
in
Malawi
is rapidly growing in most
parts of the country, Lilongwe Rural is one of parishes with large
number of congregants. The parish has six congregations and four
preaching points.
There
were three village chapels built included are Matsimbe, Mwenda and
Chinsiyo. On
10th July 2005
people witnessed dedication of
forth chapel in the parish at Chimbowa Congregation. Bishop Dr Joseph
Bvumbwe dedicated the chapel on this day in presence of seven visitors
from Johannesmeinde Congregation of
Evangelical
Lutheran
Church
in
South Africa
. The group paid an exchange
visit to Lilongwe Urban and Rural Parishes. In 2003 a group of ten
youths came to assist building the chapel and the Sunday’s dedication
was a blessed day to the second group that has seen the work ELCM has
achieved.
It
was last year in 2004 when Bishop Robert Berg accompanied by Amayi
Bishop Berg, Diane Kaufmann and Kathy Shattack visited the chapel while
uncompleted. During that visit, the Bishop was welcomed by Women’s
Guild of Lilongwe Rural with singing of the popular song of Chimtengo
Chagwa Mmunda Mwanga (The Big Tree has Fallen in my Garden). The
song that translates problems that people face and encounter and how
they can overcome, was also a hit (song) of the day when Bishop Bvumbwe
dedicated the chapel.
During
his speech, the Lord Bishop Bvumbwe pointed out thatthe song reminded
him of last visit by Bishop Berg of NWSW. The Bishop told the gathering
how good Bishop Berg would have felt if he would have a chance to be in
Malawi
during the dedication. Bishop
Berg is popularly known as Ambuye Bishop Phiri in
Malawi
. It was good memories to see
that the place, which was last, visited as a building project has
transformed into such a permanent place of worship. Thanks to God and to
Grace Lutheran that gave the funds that assisted with the church
building project. He thanked
the Bishop for sparing time of visiting Chimbowa when he was in
Malawi
and also thanked members of
Grace Lutheran,
Eau Claire
for rendering support for the
completion of the chapel that has enabled the event to take place. He
also thanked Bishop Berg for his moral support to ELCM. Bishop Bvumbwe
was happy to announce the project of digging and constructing a well at
Matsimbe the project that has already started. He also thanked Bishop
Berg because of supporting this project. Access to good water is another
problem in Lilongwe Rural Parish. Deaths of most children are due to
diseases caused by drinking contaminated water (people drink water which
animals drink in rivers). Hence availability of good water from
protected wells improves people’s lives. The well at Matsimbe will
assist not only the members of ELCM but also people who live in the
village. The village has large population and little access of water.
The feeding center where Coness is will be the main beneficiary of the
project.
The
event at Chimbowa was graced by the presence of Binton Kutsaila, Member
of Parliament of Malawi National Assembly, Village Headmen,
representatives of Chiseka Senior Chief, representatives of
congregations in the parish and visitors from ELCSA. On behalf of the
surrounded villages the chiefs thanked the Bishop because of building
beautiful chapel, introduction of feeding center and teaching people how
to plant trees through Evangelical Lutheran Development Program (ELDP),
the development arm of the church. Most villages in Lilongwe Rural have
trees because of ELDP, which was operating in this area. ELDP operated a
large impact area in the south of Lilongwe District. Now people are
planting trees and practicing different agro – forestry activities
although ELDP moved to Dedza in another area. He reminded the church
leadership of the impending hunger this year and requested the Bishop
for food assistance.
Reported
by:
Mphatso
Thole – Information Officer/Companion Coordinator (ELCM)
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