African Pastors’ Conference
Malawi run, July 2024
The warm heart of Africa was the APC destination for July 2024. The APC team consisted of Mala Chindongo from Blantyre Malawi, Newton Chilingula from Lilongwe Malawi, Andrew Mostert from Birchleigh Baptist Church and Herman Swart from South Coast Reformed Fellowship Church in Port Shepstone, KZN.
Andrew and myself started the long haul to Lilongwe Malawi from Johannesburg, South Africa. We left early on Tuesday 2 July and made it within four days and arrived on Friday night 5 July in Lilongwe.
We had a minor hiccup on the way in Lusaka, Zambia in the inner city as the APC truck started to make very funny noises. Ronald Kalifungwa kindly helped us get accommodation for the night and in the morning, we were at the Lusaka Toyota dealership. The mechanic fine combed the vehicle to find nothing wrong before he spotted the mortal remains of a bird in the engine cavity. The blood delayed us. The bird’s blood is what caused the horrible noise on the fan belt, and we were off!
Lilongwe, Malawi 8-9 July 2024
The APC team were treated to some very edifying sermons and fellowship at Reformation Bible Church in Lilongwe. For three Lord’s days in a row including two sermons by a young pastor Chisomo Masambuka from RBC studying at the Masters Seminary. We experienced why good Christ centered diligent preaching was such a necessity for the Lord’s people. We were greatly encouraged!
The Lilongwe conference was well attended and brothers and sisters from neighboring towns attended the conference including the lecturers of CCAP denomination in Malawi for which we were very thankful. The book sales were exceptionally well and most of the books were sold.
Here are the numbers: Delegates: 69. The free books for all of the 4 conferences in Malawi was “Expository outlines and Observations on Romans by Rob Ventura published by Christian Focus Publications and A concise guide to the greatest letter ever written: Romans by Nasseli published by Crossway. We were also able to give all the delegates an extra free book that varies at 3 of the conferences. At Lilongwe it was, “The transforming Power of the Gospel” by Bridges. We gave out 207 free books at Lilongwe and sold 705 books of which many were commentaries.
Mzuzu, Malawi 11-12 July 2023
Next, we were off for Mzuzu in the North of Malawi where the conference was held at St Andrews Church a CCAP (Presbyterian) church. We were much encouraged by a youngish man Nathaneal from CCAP who came teary eyed to speak to the preachers. He was much convicted that he had been proclaiming the wrong Gospel to his hearers! Just perhaps the Lord saved a Lydia who was a worshipper of God before the Lord opened her heart.
Here are the detals of the Mzuzu conference: Delegtes :67. 202 free books handed out and 418 books sold. The transforming power of the Gospel by Bridges was also given for free to the delegates.
Blantyre Malawi 16-17 July 2024
The next stop was Blantyre in the South. The attendance at this conference was slightly disappointing in light of the higher numbers in years past. Nevertheless, the conference continued. The Gospel was preached, and our God was glorified through the preaching of the doctrine of Justification by faith alone and its outworkings in the book of Romans.
The APC team was also much encouraged to see and experience the good work taking place from Antioch Baptist Church in Blantyre Malawi. We attended one of Ps Mala’s college Bible studies as they worked through Biblical foundations for the Christian faith by Paul Washer. We were also privy to attend a majestic marriage seminar arranged by Antioch.
Here are the details: 24 delegates, 48 free books handed out, 202 books sold.
Salima, Malawi 19-20 July 2024
The last venue of the Malawi run was Salima. Two days before the start of the conference brother Newton informed us that less than 5 people had registered for the conference. We set up a meeting the day before the conference with the local organizers and were off to Salima. Salima is more in Muslim territory and home to many of the Yao people who mostly live next to lake Malawi. On our way we encountered masked people on their way to a meeting. These are the Chewe people of Malawi. (Gallery – The gule wamkulu – meaning in the masks (africageographic.com) (An Introduction To Malawis Chewa People (theculturetrip.com)
The meeting with the local organizers went well and we were able by the Lord’s grace to iron out the problems and the conference was on, and we had about 70 delegates for the two days of the conference! Salima is a very needy place for the Gospel, and it is in need of a church planting work.
At Salima none of the delegates were of a reformed persuasion so the engagement with the delegates was good.
Here are the figures: Delegates:70. Extra free book: Nine marks of a Healthy church by Mark Dever. 210 free books handed out. 321 books sold.
Some of the questions asked during the conferences.
What should someone do, if they are under a church that does not preach the Gospel according to the Scriptures?
Can salvation be lost?
If we were saved by grace through faith does that mean that Christians can now live reckless lives?
Some of the feedback from the conferences.
Next time, give us three days please!!!! Taweya ku mpando
The teachings are exceptional, and it is once in a year. We starve for almost 363 days therefore 2 days meal cannot keep us rejuvenated for 363 days. Even if it will be raising the registration fees, I don’t think the majority can say no.
To God be the glory, we were really blessed with your ministry
Thank you, people, may the Almighty continue to guide APC. We salute the ministry for the precious teachings. Next year is too far!!!!
Promotional Video of APC
Listen to talks from Conferences on Romans
Please pray:
1. For the upcoming APC conference runs in September in Northern Nigeria (Jos, Kano, Gindiri, Abuja and Kaduna) in October in Uganda (Mbale, Jinja, Kampala, wakiso and Mabaale) and in November in South Africa. Please pray for funds for the Uganda October run.
2. Please pray for the many books distributed to be read, understood, taught an applied from a Gospel perspective.
3. Please pray for funds for books for APC runs.
3. Pray for wisdom as the APC plans later this month next year’s schedule.
Support APC
To support APC, you can donate in the:
USA through Grace Baptist Church at Castlewoods:
By PayPal at https://www.graceatcastlewoods.org/apc/
By check made payable to ‘Grace Baptist Church’ and sent to Grace Baptist Church, 175 Stonecastle Drive, Brandon MS 39047
NOTE: Please indicate that the donation is for African Pastors Conferences
Or you can donate in the UK through Reformation Today:
By PayPal at https://reformation-today.org/donations/
By cheque made payable to ‘Reformation Today’ and posted to Reformation Today, 9 Ffordd Trem y Foel, Mold, CH7 1NG
By bank transfer: Reformation Today; Sort code: 537000; Account: 01176226
NOTE: Please indicate that the donation is for African Pastors Conferences
Or you can donate in South Africa:
By bank transfer: First National Bank (FNB); African Pastors’ Conferences ; FNB; Branch code; 250655; Account: 62879236521