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.

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.