The area west of the Chileka Road, stretching from Mwaiwathu Private Hospital to the fence demarcating the mission and G4 Security Company has within its borders may important institutions such as the Blantyre Synod Headquarters, St Michael & All Angels Church, Henry Henderson Institute Primary and Secondary Schools and Phoenix Nursery and Primary Schools. The entire land area is known by many people as HHI (Henry Henderson Institute).
This, at any rate, is innacurrate nomenclature. The more correct name is Blantyre Mission. It started off in 1876 as a mission station of the Church of Scotland, and was named after the birth place of Dr David Livingstone. The mission established a school thirty three years later and called it the Henry Henderson Institute (HHI). Initially it only catered for primary school goers but now has a secondary school as well. Later the commercial town that developed close to the mission grew and merged with another town to the east called Limbe, the resulting metropolis being called Blantyre [City].
Perhaps the best known facility at the Blantyre Mission is the cemetery because it gets visited by people from all walks of life. In confusion, many people refer to it as the HHI Cemetery. Even the church often gets referred to as HHI CCAP Church. For God's sake, no church meets at HHI premises (the school).
The church in question is St Michael and All Angels Church, built by Rev David Clement Scott between 1888 and 1891, long before HHI came into being. Christians at St Michael & All Angels Church have built a 3000 seater edifice known as the Multipurpose Church Hall. The facility hosts a whole range of activities, ranging from examinations through wedding receptions to musical concerts. I recently heard a radio advertisement stating that a certain function would take place at the HHI Multipurpose Hall. Right? Wrong! Very wrong! Once again, the name of the place is Blantyre Mission, and the Hall is St Michael and All Angels (St Michaels, for short) Multipurpose Church Hall.
Calling it HHI is like calling every Toyota a "Corolla".
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A Pastor in the Making - Osward Chinyama
Osward Chinyama is an inspiration to young people who would like to take up part time or full time ministry in the church. He received God's calling to become a full time pastor back in 2000 when he was working as a teacher.
Mr Chinyama taught at Marimba Primary School in Neno District for five years, from 2000 to 2006. During this time, he also worked part time for the Bible Society as an agent of the "Faith Comes by Hearing" program.
In the year 2000, Osward submitted his application for admission to the Theological College. As it turned out, he and a colleague from Michiru CCAP were chosen by the Blantyre City Presbytery to represent the Presbytery at a youth camp in Crestfield, Pittsburgh, USA. The interviews for the Theological College entrance, unfortunately, coincided with the US trip, so he missed them.
On returning from the US,he decided to enroll with the Theological College by Extension in Malawi (TEEM) and studied for a diploma in Theology between 2002 and 2006.
Osward has been very active in St Michaels Youth. He was once its treasurer then its chairman. He has also been very active in the Evangelism Committee,which he chaired from 2007 unit the time he left form Zomba,in the second half of 2011. He is currently at Zomba Theological College, pursuing a degree program Divinity, with a view to becoming a full time pastor.
Mr Chinyama said in an interview that pastoral work ought to embrace evangelism.As a teaching elder, the pastor should endeavor to deliver teachings that have an evangelistic slant because we no longer live in days in which church growth depends on Christians bearing children and bringing them into the church. Instead, efforts have to be made to reach out to the unreached, and the pastor should play a leading role in these efforts.
His advice to young people is one of encouragement to them to be brave and courageous, and come along to take up ministry, like the Biblical youthful Timothy did. Some aspects of pastoral work are physically and mentally demanding, requiring the strength and enthusiasm of young people. All that is needed is to take a step of faith, and God will open the doors for anyone who makes themselves available.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
New Mvano Members Inducted
The 2011 Mvano class, comprising 26 students, finished itse lessons on 5th November and was inducted in a colourful ceremomy the following day, Sunday, 6th November, 2011. The Moderator of St. Michael and All Angels Congregation, Rev Andrew Kamponda, presided over the induction ceremony, which took place in the 10:30 Chichewa service.
The graduating class surprised congregants by putting up a highly spirited performance of hymn 14 from the Chichewa hymnal during the service, thanks to the able guidance of Mrs Lucy Mauluka who, along with Mrs Chienda, had delivered the requisite lessons to the class in the course of the year.
The service started promptly at 10:30 in the prayer room, and then owing to the swollen patronage, it was shifted to the amphitheatre. Finally the service moved into the Multipurpose Hall after the conclusion of the English service.
After answering a number of questions from the Moderator, all the 26 former students were declared full members of Mvano. Following the dedication of their uniform by the Moderator, the ladies processed out of the hall to wear the uniform - black skirts and white blouses. They, however, did not wear the white headgear, as this had to wait for the Moderator, assisted by his wife, to fix them on each one's head, to the accompanimemt of a pronouncememt of God's blessings.
In his sermon, Rev Kamponda reminded all present that God's calling is personal to each individual and therefore we all need to personally respond to the calling like the boy Samuel had done at Shiloh.
The graduating class surprised congregants by putting up a highly spirited performance of hymn 14 from the Chichewa hymnal during the service, thanks to the able guidance of Mrs Lucy Mauluka who, along with Mrs Chienda, had delivered the requisite lessons to the class in the course of the year.
The service started promptly at 10:30 in the prayer room, and then owing to the swollen patronage, it was shifted to the amphitheatre. Finally the service moved into the Multipurpose Hall after the conclusion of the English service.
After answering a number of questions from the Moderator, all the 26 former students were declared full members of Mvano. Following the dedication of their uniform by the Moderator, the ladies processed out of the hall to wear the uniform - black skirts and white blouses. They, however, did not wear the white headgear, as this had to wait for the Moderator, assisted by his wife, to fix them on each one's head, to the accompanimemt of a pronouncememt of God's blessings.
In his sermon, Rev Kamponda reminded all present that God's calling is personal to each individual and therefore we all need to personally respond to the calling like the boy Samuel had done at Shiloh.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Visit by Zambians
Thirty one Christians form Chelstone Reformed Church in Lusaka, Zambia, travelled to Malawi last week as visitors of St Miachaels Men's Ministry. Among them were members of the Women's Guild and two youths. The leader of delegation was the Pastor of Chelstone Church, Rev Madalitso Banda.
The initial plan was that they would arrive in the evening of Thursday, 13th October, but because of last minute logistical challenges, they left Lusaka on the said Thursday afternoon, arriving in Blantyre on Friday morning around 11 am. After a brief welcoming ceremony held in the Multipurpose Church Hall, the guests left for Zomba to visit the plateau, where lunch had been arranged for them at the mountain top Sunbird Kuchawe Inn.
The following day, the women joined their fellow Mvano members in the weekly Mvano meeting. The visiting Mrs Banda, wife to Rev Madalitso Banda, delivered a powerful sermon at the joint Mvano meeting. Meanwhile members of the Chelstone Men's Fellowship joined their fellow men in the Multipurpose Hall for an exposition of God's word by Mr Daniel Menyamenya, followed by a Bible Study focusing on the first two chapters of Nehemiah.
Saturday afternoon was shopping time for the esteemed visitors, who were given the chance to visit some shops and markets in Blantyre. Afterwards, the focus shifted to Mr and Mrs Lipunga's home, venue for a specially arranged braai in honour of the visitors.
Sunday, 16th October, was another busy day for the Zambians. The Rev Banda took the 5:45 and 10:30 Chichewa services. Speaking in flawless Chichewa, spiced by Zambian Nyanja expressions, he spoke of the importance of translating our faith into good works. The visiting men's choir was in attendance at the 7:30 Chichewa and the 9:20 English services.
On the same Sunday, St Michaels congregation was blessed with another special visitor - Rev Schaafsma, who had until two years previously been Associate Minister at the church and had since returned to his home, Holland. He took the 9:20 English service.
The climax of the visit by the Zambians was the farewell dinner held in the Multipurpose Hall in the evening of Sunday, 16th October. Several people spoke at this dinner, among them, Rev Madalitso Banda, who dwelt on the similarities among African communuties in the manner they conduct their affairs, citing the example of the almost trademark tendency in Africa to let important functions run way behind schedule.
The visitors left Blantrye at midnight on 16th October, 2011, and were reportedly in Lusaka the following day at 20:00 hours.
The initial plan was that they would arrive in the evening of Thursday, 13th October, but because of last minute logistical challenges, they left Lusaka on the said Thursday afternoon, arriving in Blantyre on Friday morning around 11 am. After a brief welcoming ceremony held in the Multipurpose Church Hall, the guests left for Zomba to visit the plateau, where lunch had been arranged for them at the mountain top Sunbird Kuchawe Inn.
The following day, the women joined their fellow Mvano members in the weekly Mvano meeting. The visiting Mrs Banda, wife to Rev Madalitso Banda, delivered a powerful sermon at the joint Mvano meeting. Meanwhile members of the Chelstone Men's Fellowship joined their fellow men in the Multipurpose Hall for an exposition of God's word by Mr Daniel Menyamenya, followed by a Bible Study focusing on the first two chapters of Nehemiah.
Saturday afternoon was shopping time for the esteemed visitors, who were given the chance to visit some shops and markets in Blantyre. Afterwards, the focus shifted to Mr and Mrs Lipunga's home, venue for a specially arranged braai in honour of the visitors.
Sunday, 16th October, was another busy day for the Zambians. The Rev Banda took the 5:45 and 10:30 Chichewa services. Speaking in flawless Chichewa, spiced by Zambian Nyanja expressions, he spoke of the importance of translating our faith into good works. The visiting men's choir was in attendance at the 7:30 Chichewa and the 9:20 English services.
On the same Sunday, St Michaels congregation was blessed with another special visitor - Rev Schaafsma, who had until two years previously been Associate Minister at the church and had since returned to his home, Holland. He took the 9:20 English service.
The climax of the visit by the Zambians was the farewell dinner held in the Multipurpose Hall in the evening of Sunday, 16th October. Several people spoke at this dinner, among them, Rev Madalitso Banda, who dwelt on the similarities among African communuties in the manner they conduct their affairs, citing the example of the almost trademark tendency in Africa to let important functions run way behind schedule.
The visitors left Blantrye at midnight on 16th October, 2011, and were reportedly in Lusaka the following day at 20:00 hours.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The Praise Team
St Michael and All Angels congregation is priviledged to have a praise team comprising talented young people who have the passion for contemporary gospel music. It was one of the earliest praise teams within Blantyre Synod, having been formed in the year 1999. It has so far produced three albums, namely Zikomo Yesu (2003), Yesu Ndinu Wamoyo (2006) and Yesu Ndiye Yankho (2011). The track Thanthwe Long'ambikatu from the latest album, which features Ruth Mputeni on lead vocals, is already enjoying wide airplay on local radios.
On 27th August,2011, the Praise Team launched the Yesu Ndiye Yankho album at the Multipurpose Church Hall. The event, described as a success by many patrons, was graced by a cross section of seasoned gospel artists from the city of Blantyre,including Frank Chimpazi, Thoko Suya, Geoffrey Zigoma and Joyful Souls.
Currently the Praise Team is progressing with the production of a DVD. So far three songs from the Yesu Ndiye Yankho album have been shot and finalised on DVD. Some of them have already been featured on local TV stations. The DVD production is ongoing, and it is hoped that the final DVD will be launched some time time in 2012.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Cathedral Undergoing Renovations
Rev Clement Scott's masterpiece, the St Michael and All angels cathedral, which was built between 1888 and 1891, has developed some cracks on its wall and roof structures, necessitating some repair work. As a result, the Management of the congregation decided to engage a contractor to carry out the repair work.
The work started on Monday, 19th September. As a result, the cathedral cannot be be used for worship over the next two months or so. All services previously held in the historical church building will be redirected to the Multipurpose Church Hall.
The 6 o'clock Chichewa service will now start at 5:45 in the morning, followed by the contemporary service (again in Chichewa) at 7:30, having been shifted from 7:00 am. Thereafter the English service will start in the same Hall at 9:20 am while the 10:30 service will start at the same time, but in the prayer room behind the amphitheater. The 5 pm English service will also be conducted in the prayer room.
The entire repair works will cost something in the region of k21million and has been divided into several phases. The first phase, which is the one that commenced on 19th September, will concentrate on the roofing structure. The other phase(s) are to come later.
The work started on Monday, 19th September. As a result, the cathedral cannot be be used for worship over the next two months or so. All services previously held in the historical church building will be redirected to the Multipurpose Church Hall.
The 6 o'clock Chichewa service will now start at 5:45 in the morning, followed by the contemporary service (again in Chichewa) at 7:30, having been shifted from 7:00 am. Thereafter the English service will start in the same Hall at 9:20 am while the 10:30 service will start at the same time, but in the prayer room behind the amphitheater. The 5 pm English service will also be conducted in the prayer room.
The entire repair works will cost something in the region of k21million and has been divided into several phases. The first phase, which is the one that commenced on 19th September, will concentrate on the roofing structure. The other phase(s) are to come later.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Its Maulana, Chilapula
At the ongoing bianuall conference of the Blantyre Synod, delegates elected Rev Maulana to the post of General Secretary and Rev Chilapula (Mrs) as Moderator of Blantyre Synod. The new Deputy General Secreatary is Rev Nyekanyeka and the Vice Moderator is Rev Andrew Kamponda.
Rev Maulana was previously Executive Director of the Chilema Lay Training Centre in Zomba while Rev Chilapula is the Moderator of Mount Pleasant congregation in Blantyre City Presbytery.
The posts of Moderator and Deputy General Secretary fell vacant earlier in the year following an incident where the then holders of th these posts jointly addressed a press conference distancing Blantyre Synod from a pastoral letter that had been issued by the Roman Catholic clergy critical of some aspects of the sitting government. At an extra-ordinary assembly of the Synod, delegates resolved that this action was deplorable and that the two should not continue in their offices.
Rev Maulana was previously Executive Director of the Chilema Lay Training Centre in Zomba while Rev Chilapula is the Moderator of Mount Pleasant congregation in Blantyre City Presbytery.
The posts of Moderator and Deputy General Secretary fell vacant earlier in the year following an incident where the then holders of th these posts jointly addressed a press conference distancing Blantyre Synod from a pastoral letter that had been issued by the Roman Catholic clergy critical of some aspects of the sitting government. At an extra-ordinary assembly of the Synod, delegates resolved that this action was deplorable and that the two should not continue in their offices.
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