Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent in the following report related to his January 2018 trip to Malawi and Mozambique:
Pastor Dr Bob,
Greetings from Malawi.
I am very happy to inform you that I had a nice trip to Malawi. I was picked at the airport by our representative in Malawi Radson Mulozowa. We arrived in Migowi at 4pm on Thursday. Since the work was too big I held a meeting with our brethren in Malawi who were wanted to be baptized that evening. We had a discussion for 2 hours in Mulozowa’s home. Those who met me for baptism were-
1 Radson Mulozowa
2 Jones Wasi
3 Philip Misanjo
4 Justen Leto
5 Moses Chiphangwi
6 Lizzy Khutupa
7 Blessings Thomas (a primary teacher)
8 ZenzaniKotokwa
9 Piason Mapila
10 Edward Sayenda
11 Milonde Libungwa
12 Tingwilizane Ng’ong’olwa
13 Anne Jelemani
14 Estery Maida
15 Linnly Gremu
16 Estery Libungwa
17 Mary Matabwa
18 Margret Alan
I was very happy when counseling these people. Among them were some old ladies and men whom I thought have learned nothing. But this people were deep in truth and they new the reason why they are need of baptism. I appreciated the work we have been doing in Malawi and the work which our brother Grantone Otieno did during the Feast Of Tabernacles 2017. Grantone did a wonderful work to put all the teachings in place. He touched all the subjects during his days in the Feast of Tabernacles.
I want to appreciate the great work our brother Mulozowa has done in both Malawi and Mozambique with in few years that we choose him to our representative in Malawi. This man has done a wonderful work with a good plan of work. May God bless him for his work.
With the 2 hours of our meeting in Mulozowa’s home, I touched Many subjects and true repentance. One of the attendees decided the next Day not to go for her baptism. Plus another girl was still young but she wanted to be baptized. I did counseling to her and she noticed the real meaning of baptism and its importance. Since she was still school girl, she decided to wait and not to be baptized at this moment. This girl is a wonderful girl. Her parents did not want her to keep sabbath while the whole family are keeping Sunday. So they chased her out of their home if she has decided to join Continuing Church of God. But the girl accepted our teachings and moved out of their home simply because she wanted to follow the truth. So this girl is now in Mulozowa’s home. I am still thinking how we can assist this girl and if there is a way how we can assist her to continue with her school will be great.
On Friday we took a bus to Mozambique very early in the morning. When we reached at the border I found Mulozowa had already made things good I was not disturbed to go in Mozambique. we went early because I wanted to meet the brethren in Mozambique who wanted the baptism. I took two hours counseling them.
MOZAMBIQUE
I met very many people from Mozambique who wanted to be baptized. I took almost three hours when I was counseling them. Among them was a man who divorced his wife. I took time to talk with him about marriage and the reason why God hates divorce (Malachi 2:15-16) After a long discussion the man decided himself not be baptized till he go back to his wife and talk with her. He said that he is going to take Mulozowa and Matiya to the lady’s home so that they can talk with her deeply about the word of God.
These are the members from Mozambique who were baptized.
1 Wedison Matiya (church representative in Mozambique)
2 James Chilsaya
3 Eneles Matiya (Matiya’s wife)
4 Khahangala Majalende ( chief of Mozambique)
5 Maxwel Banda
6 Estery Chisaya
7 Boston Yonna
8 Patson Mutithe
9 Wilson Alamuson
10 Alamuson Mphinji
11 Margret Chimusoni
12 Regna Khangala
13 Agnes Wisikesi
14 James Rabson
!5 Justen Mphinji
16 Charles Matiya
17 Mary Elliot
18 Gloria Mutithe
“The total number of members who were baptized were 34. 16 members from Malawi and 18 members from Mozambique. Since I became a pastor, this is the largest work of baptism that I have done in my life. Even though it was a big work and tough, it was done perfectly and I thank those who prayed for me during my trip to Malawi. The Baptism was done in a river called Chirewe in Mozambique. it is a big river with plenty of water.I appropriate the joint hands of Mulozowa and Matiya. The rest of members were not baptized because the were still learning. And I want to inform you pastor that the doors are open in Malawi and Mozambique. I did not expect the extent of the work I have seen in Malawi. Let us pray for the work in Africa.
On the Sabbath we met in Malawi. Our brethren from Mozambique came to Malawi. Even though I was but one person, I touched many subjects. The importance of Christian calling and our major work, true repentance, divorce and remarriage, tithing, and the Sabbath.
The Sabbath was wonderful. The number was 86. Also I met our representative in Zambia, Mr Justine Gonnakomoto who came all along from Zambia by bus. We discussed so many things with him concerning the work in Zambia. He told me that they are not safe if the church is not registered in Zambia. Also he told me that our Magazines are needed to be translated into Chechewa and Bemba languages so that the people can understand. This is also another problem in Malawi and Mozambique. They need the magazines to be translated in Chechewa so that all people can understand. I talked with both Mulozowa and Justine if they can do that work. They agree that they can do it perfectly. So Mulozowa want the current magazine so that he can start the translation. So please send it to Mulozowa. Since this work in these three countries is big and they are speaking the same language, I beg you pastor to assist so that they can print the magazines in Malawi. This will be safe and cheap. It will be so helpful to these countries.
MEETING
After services I hold a meeting with all our hosts in Mozambique to discuss about the work in Mozambique. I wanted all of them to learn all the truths, I negotiated with Mulozowa that they with meet every month for three days to get teachings from our website and books because i took laptop to Mulozowa and they can use it. Next time when I will be going back I will carry laptop to Matiya and Justine.. Another Pentecostal pastor came from northern part of Mozambique 300 miles away. He has been visiting our website frequently. So when he heard that I am in Mozambique, he came to meet me. we talked much and I told him that I will be back in Malawi in February or march And I will go to his place.
I have so many pictures for baptism and meeting. I will send them later and other in formations.
Evans
As requested, the magazine was sent to Radson Mulozowa to get to of Zambia for translation. We have already produced a small amount of literature in Chichewa, but have never printed materials in Malawi before. Last February, I was able to personally meet Radson Mulozowa, Wedison Matiya, plus Hosea Baulen of Malawi. Currently, we are registered in Malawi, have been working on Mozambique registration, and Justine Gonnakomoto is looking to see what we need to do to be ‘legal’ in Zambia (a country we still have not claimed to have congregations in, but may be able to do so some time this year).
Anyway, I told Evans Ochieng that we would support the printing of our magazine and other literature in Malawi (perhaps I should mention that Malawi is the second poorest nation on Earth according to a report that came out this month). Printing literature in Malawi should also help us better teach those in Mozambique and Zambia in accordance with Jesus’ commission in Matthew 28:19-20.
Here are two photographs that were sent:
Malawi and Mozambique baptismal candidates
Mozambique children
Radson Mulozowa sent the following report:
Dear Pastor Bob,
Greetings from Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique.Let me thank you for sending Pastor Evans to come to Malawi and conduct baptism among other things.
We deeply thank you once again for sending funds that have assisted in roofing Mozambican congregations.
Pastor Evans arrived in Malawi on 18th January, 2018 on Air Malawi plane. From there we collected a car up to Migowi.
On arrival at Migowi we booked him at Thamanga Lodge which is the usual lodge which we book him when he comes over here.
Thereafter we proceeded to my house where those who were expecting to be baptized met for counseling and questions as to why they need to be baptized in the Church of God.
On 19th January, 2018 we hired a minibus that took all of us from Malawi including Pastor Evans to Mozambique. The Baptismal ceremony was done in a river in Mozambique called Chilewe. The reason why the baptismal ceremony was done in Mozambique it is because there were old people among those who were baptized who could not make it because of old age. …<
As I reported to you before that armyworms have destroyed our maize.The situation has become worse in the way that there are no rains and crops are dying due to lack of water.Pastor Evans will report much on this.
Many brethren are joining us after hearing the truth which has resulted that there is a need to translate our magazine into Chichewa and Chilomwe and Bemba for the benefit of Zambia … During this meeting we had our representative from Zambia who comes by bus who has shown an interest to register the church in Zambia and also has shown interest to translate our magazine in Bemba langauge.
Radson Mulozowa’s report also mentioned that Wedison Matiya is having severe health problems (kidney-related if I recall correctly)–so please pray for him.
Radson Mulozowa sent in some photographs related to the baptisms, which I saw, but Photoshop was unable to open them, so they are not included in this letter.
Let me mention here that nearly all of those in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia who have been affiliating (or starting to affiliate) with us did NOT have a prior Church of God background. So, we have had several trips to Malawi and it is taking time to explain “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26).
We must, of course, go through those doors that Jesus opens for us.
Jesus taught:
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,’These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelation 3:7-8)
37 “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Brethren, please continue to pray that we will continue to go through the doors that Jesus opens and to have more faithful laborers for the harvest.
Jesus also said:
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.(Matthew 7:16-20)
Reaching others and having repentance and baptisms do demonstrate those fruits in the Continuing Church of God.