02/23/2025
2 Timothy 2:1-2-You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Austin Long and I have booked our flights to head to Malawi, Africa in a little over a week. We will be joining other pastors that are in trenches of spiritual warfare in a country that is full of the landmines of false doctrines and false gospels. God in His Grace in the Lord Jesus Christ, raised up faithful men with their families, to proclaim the Gospel of God’s Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It is on that foundation that God has sent these men and their families to plant true, Biblical churches accurately and boldly proclaiming God's Word all over Malawi.
For years, God has worked mighty things through these churches, these brothers and sisters in Christ and these pastors to continue to train other faithful men that God is calling to continue this work in other areas of Malawi and for future generations. Antioch Baptist Church in Blantyre, Malawi has been at the center of God’s activity as a place where these men were trained in the Scriptures and mentored as those that God raised up to send out to be the light in a land of spiritual darkness.
The Lord Jesus graciously opened this door for us last year to be able to join with them in His work that He is doing there. We are so thankful and encouraged by the heart of Pastor Malamulo Chindongo and our brothers and sisters in Christ that have been doing this wonderful work for years.
Austin and I will be staying with them in their homes, ministering beside them in their communities and worshipping with them for two weeks. We will also be joining a group of about 35 men who are pastors and faithful men they are mentoring to become pastors. Most, if not all, of these men were trained and mentored at Antioch Baptist Church or churches they helped to plant or grow over the years. This is an ongoing fruitful ministry that God in His Grace has raised up and grown for over a decade.
Austin Long will be going with me to join this group of men, for a time of ministry, genuine fellowship, encouragement and spiritual growth, with other young men, who just like himself, God has given a faithful heart to serve in the ministry. Austin has a calling from the Lord to serve as a missionary and he discerned the Lord’s will was for him to answer that call to leave his successful accounting job in order to pursue that path. At the end of 2024, he moved back home to Bogue Chitto area and we began doing Biblical studies and training for the missionary field. My family and I are incredibly encouraged and grateful to have the honor of knowing him and seeing the faithful heart the Lord has given him to walk away from his career, not knowing how everything would work out, but just trusting the Lord who never fails.
Praise God for all He has done in Christ, first and foremost!
Pray for Austin, Pastor Mala, and all of the churches and pastors that we will be ministering beside. Pray for me as well. Although, I am unworthy, the Lord has given me a great honor to preach and teach two of the sessions at the pastor’s conference. I have also been asked to share the story of how God in His providence, according to His perfect will, for His Glory and in His Grace, chose to bring our daughter, Reese, home to Him last year from a bad seizure in the middle of the night. As most of you know, God’s Grace was truly amazing in how he strengthened our family and surrounded us with our family in Christ, to show how HE ALONE will sustain His people through the worst suffering and trials, giving you a heart to praise Him in the midst of all of the pain. He does all of this FOR HIS GLORY and for the LOVE OF HIS PEOPLE to whom He has graciously given forgiveness of sin and eternal life with Him!
These men and their families are suffering from trials and persecutions, but God, who has allowed these things to display His Glory, will sustain them IN HIS GRACE! Pray that the Lord would give me and the other men speaking His Word to share and the Holy Spirit to work in people’s hearts.
If you would like to give to support us in this mission the Lord has given us and help with the costs of the flights, expenses and ministry, we would definitely be thankful. Our PayPal giving link is on our page. God always provides, and so it is not about the provision, but the fruit.
Philippians 4:17-Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the fruit which increases to your account.
Love and Grace to You in the Lord Jesus Christ!
