TAKING IT TO THE STREETS. We have been invited to take the School of Ministry into remote villages to train village Pastors in the Inductive Bible Study Method. These Pastors have little or no Biblical training and are anxious to be taught how to study and teach the Word of God. Each village has been visited by us and interviews were conducted with all of the church leaders.
We clarified to them that we are here in Malawi to teach, train & disciple those who are willing to be faithful men, who earnestly desire to learn and then pass on what they have learned to others. It is so much less expensive for us to go to them, than to bring all of them to our home site here in Lilongwe. We will be setting up key villages which are centrally located for the maximum number of Pastors to get to easily. Although these key villages will be fairly easy for the Pastors to get to, it will not be so easy for us.
The villages are two to three hours away from where we live, and getting to them requires a reliable 4X4 vehicle. In order to get to these villages, we need to travel some distance on a paved one-lane highway and then turn off onto a series of dirt roads which have basically been destroyed in the past rainy season. This is very rough terrain and it's practically impossible to travel over without a 4X4 vehicle.
Consequently, we are praying about the purchase of a reliable 4x4 vehicle and are looking at a Toyota or Nissan 4X4. Both of these makes are reliable and are easy to get serviced here as well as obtain parts for, when necessary.
We have sold the Pajero (Praise the Lord!) and we will be selling the Toyota Fun Cargo (our interim 2wd vehicle for getting around town). These funds, coupled with a gift of $1,000 from a dear saint, should amount to approximately $10,000 which is earmarked for the purchase of this new (used) vehicle. Depending upon the year & condition of the vehicle, we are estimating the cost will be in the $14,000 to $17,000 range.
We know that the Lord will use this vehicle in helping us to further the preaching of the Gospel here in Malawi. Not only will I be teaching the Pastors the Inductive Bible Study Method, but two Malawian men who will accompany us will do the translating for me as well as minister to the children in these villages. They will be teaching the village children Bible lessons, utilizing the Jesus Video movie along with a complete puppet ministry, which was recently donated. Nora will be teaching the wives of these pastors as well.
Thank you for joining us as we pray about these exciting new opportunities to serve the Lord in Malawi and also for the additional funds which are needed to purchase a reliable 4x4 vehicle so that we can effectively do so.
We so appreciate the prayers of the saints! As the Scripture reveals, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16b NKJ)
In Him,
Steve & Nora Braselton
CC School of Ministry - www.theroadtomalawi.blogspot.com
and
Ruth's Shawl Ministry - www.ruthsshawl.org
Lilongwe Malawi Africa
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