Country Facts
Mission History Culture Gospel Work
Scenery
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2004 Malawi Mission
Update |
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(Faith & Victory : January
2005) |
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Greetings to all the saints at home and abroad. I am thankful for
the blessings of God this year on the gospel work in Africa. We
thank each one that has carried a burden for the various gospel
efforts. Your prayers and financial support have been a great
blessing to the recipients in Africa. Souls have been saved from the
curse of sin, cold children have been warmed, and the Kingdom has
been furthered.
I had purchased a ticket to fly to Ghana in November; but due to an
injury, I was unable to make the planned trip. I have been hindered
from traveling and working for a number of months, but I am still
encouraged and am continuing to look to the Lord for a complete
healing. The Lord answered prayer and Northwest/KLM refunded 100% of
my ticket. We give God all praise. What a blessing we have as
children of God to know that we are in the Lord’s hands and that He
is in control of all things that touch our lives.
I will here give a brief account of some of the highlights of this
last year concerning the gospel work in Africa....
[note: Update of the other countries can be found under
Mission History of the respective country]
Last year we established a ‘blanket fund’ in order to buy blankets
for orphans and impoverished children in Malawi and Mozambique.
Since this fund was established, many children have received
blankets and now have something to help protect them from the cold
in wintertime. Bibles are being purchased and placed in the hands of
souls hungry for the Word of God. Two young men from the village,
one of whom translates for me when I am there, have finished another
year of education due to the support of the saints.
Many congregations have been established in both Malawi and
Mozambique. Here is a quote from a letter I received from Bro.
Failos in Malawi (edited slightly for clarity): “Most of the
congregations come from Roman Catholicism. So according to our rules
and teaching of baptism as you know, Roman Catholics do not baptize
with water-see Hebrews 6 verse 2. The second reason is that your
first teaching with the late Bro. Bob people understand very well.
This is why many congregations join us. The second witness is that
last year you traveled to Mozambique and you teach different
congregations. After we left there we opened three new
congregations, which means your teaching is very profitable because
people did not know what the Word of God was telling us. That is why
we have different congregations. Most of them come to us to get the
understanding of the Word…. What you can know is that if God want
something to happen, no man can control that. It is the will of God
to spread Christianity.”
What a blessing to know that people are still being drawn to Christ
and holiness by the power of the Word of God. There have been
various meetings held in villages throughout Malawi and Mozambique
this year.
Quoting from another letter from Bro. Failos: “Here in Malawi all
the saints send greetings to you and all the saints there…”
....We need not look very far to be reminded of the extensiveness of
the work of God. The fields are white and ready to harvest but the
labors are few. The needs are great but God is greater still. May
the Lord help us as some of His people, to be faithful to fulfill
the great commission at home and in foreign lands. May we do all
within our power and ability to help spread the gospel of salvation
to a lost world.
I have been working on a website that contains facts, mission
history and photo galleries depicting the culture, scenery, and
gospel work from various African countries. I hope to have this site
accessible to the public within a couple of months. Please continue
to remember the gospel efforts in Africa. We have brothers and
sisters in this foreign land that are worthy of our prayer and
support.
In the Lord,
Bro. Michael Smith
[Note: Tax-deductible, financial contributions for the gospel
efforts in Africa can be sent to LARTFO, 7298 Park Terrace Dr. N.E.;
Keizer, OR 97303] |
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