Large congregations are the rule here in Malawi. As in the States, the challenge in a large congregation is how to spiritually nurture the members. It is so easy for folks to just come to worship but never get involved in the life of the congregation. To help address that issue, Blantyre Synod congregations are divided into zones, geographic regions of the congregation. Elders are appointed from each of the zones or cottages to oversee the life of the members within those areas. The elders are responsible for knowing the families in their area – their needs, their struggles, and their joys. The elders are responsible for conducting weekly prayer meetings. These are called Cottage Prayers. Each week in worship, the locations of cottage prayers are announced so that everyone in that area is able to know and to attend. At the Chigodi congregation, we have 4 zones. Cottage prayers are usually held on Saturday afternoons, so those who are working are able to attend.
Since the church is preparing for elections of leadership in December, Rev. Kadawati and I have visited the cottages during November, doing some teaching on the responsibilities and the requirements for deacons and elders, answering questions and then joining them in prayer. If the need is there, we have done some visitation to the sick as well. Now, I’m a bit handicapped in that I can’t preach in Chichewa but I can understand the questions being asked and follow the discussions. The session clerk, who has traveled with us, has been good about translating for me – both translating my preaching for the members of the prayer groups and the questions of the group so that I get the full extent of the questions. I have done the preaching and Rev. Kadawati has done the teaching and fielded most of the questions, although he has tossed a few delicate ones in my direction. We have worked well together as a team. For a few of these, my young associate from Chigodi Women’s Center, a newly ordained minister, has gone with us and joined in the service.
The various cottage groups had really enjoyed it when the three of us are together. It is enough to have one pastor, a blessing to have two and almost unheard of to have three in one congregation. Repeatedly they tell us how blessed they are to have the three of us there.
The venue for these meetings is always someone’s home, but the houses are too small for groups of twenty or more, so we have been meeting outside the houses. Praise God that the rains have held off each time. These meetings take place mid afternoon on Saturdays, so the challenge is to find a shady place for everyone to sit and for the pastors to stand. Seating is on the ground, or in a few cases, on grass mats that the host provided. This has worked and most Malawian are comfortable with that, especially the women who are used to sitting on the ground. We have walked up steep hills and down among small houses to get to the hosts’ homes. We have been in the heart of the Kachere village area. I have gotten to know places that one never sees from the road, where the people live. Each time, we are warmly greeting, offered cool drinks and the best seats and made to feel that we have honored them by coming, when in fact, we are the one who are blessed by being there.
My only regret is that we did not do this earlier in my time with the congregation, since this has given me a wonderful opportunity to know where these folks live and for a brief time to share in their lives. But I have to trust God that this is the right time. Rev. Kadawati’s schedule as General Secretary has not allowed for this, he has had to juggle things to make this work. My Chichewa has only recently gotten to the point that I feel comfortable following conversations and I think it has taken this time for the members to be comfortable with a mzungu (white) pastor, so it has all worked out in God’s perfect time.
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