Global Mission Bible Institute (GMBI) – an interdenominational Bible training college – on Friday made history when it presented certificates to 36 students who have successfully completed their online bible courses in Malawi.

The 36 were pioneer students of GMBI in Malawi as well as Africa. At a colourful commencement ceremony held at Lilongwe Pentecostal Church, GMBI founder and president, Reverend Dr. Charles Shaheen, challenged the graduates to be exemplary in their service to God and mankind.

protected by reCAPTCHA

“We want to see that people serve the Lord and in whatever way we can help them to plant new churches and move forward. And let’s see what God has installed for us. So it’s really a great joy and to see the fruit of our ministry here,” said Shaheen who comes from Finland in Europe.

GMBI started offering its online bible courses in 2005 in Finland. It has now grown and extended its presence in many countries, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Solomon Island, Malawi and Mozambique.

Shaheen thanked God for “first graduation in Malawi and Africa”, describing it a great milestone in their proclamation of the gospel of the living Jesus Christ.

He also commended their local coordinator, Reverend Dr. Anderson Gondwe, for working tirelessly in coordinating the programme in Malawi.

“Reverend Gondwe is a wonderful man of God, and he has been helping us with the program. We have 36 graduates here today. Some couldn’t make it, but 36 graduates, our message was that they served the Lord. It is wonderful to serve the Lord because the Bible says my father honors him who serves me. So think about that, that God the Father, honors us when we serve Him, it’s a great joy, and it’s a country of Malawi is beautiful country, beautiful people, sweet spirit, and we are so blessed to have our campus here in terms of proceeding with your programs, continuing with your programs,” he said.

While praising God for his faithfulness, Moyenda Moses Chilamba of the Pentecostal International Christian Centre (PICC) said the studies helped him deepen his ‘walk with God and also to sharpen his ministry’.

Chilamba, who spoke on behalf of the graduates, said through the studies, he had learned to handle the Word with more understanding, to pray with more depth, to lead with more wisdom, and to live with greater devotion to Christ.

“Beloved graduants, as the pioneer graduating class of Malawi, we stand as the first fruits of this vision in our land. We believe that many more will follow after seeing what the Lord has begun with us. But let us humbly remember: this does not mean we are “on top of the game.” Far from it-there are veterans and generals in the Kingdom who have gone before us. We are not replacing them; we are simply a reinforcement battalion, joining hands with those already in the battlefield. Our call is to serve faithfully, in humility, and not to disappoint our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ,” he said.

In his remarks, Reverend Gondwe disclosed that the main purpose of GMBI is to equip pastors and future leaders in a practical ministry.

He said the institute will soon introduce diploma and degree courses, which will also be offered online to anyone at no cost.

“There is an application form online, which people can fill and submit, and they will hear from GMBI. I must mention that even the degree level is free, because the institute itself is planning to offer immediate scholarship for all students from Africa, especially Malawi,” said Gondwe.

The Director General (GD) of the Evangelical Pastors Association of Malawi (EPAM) in Area 23, Apostle Duncain Kachepa, has called on church leaders to engage in prayers, preaching peace and unity as Malawi prepares for the September 16 elections.

Kachepa said this during a crusade on Sunday at his Fountain Of Hope Global Ministry (FOGM), Church in Area 23, Lilongwe, held under the theme “Two Days of Rising Glory” from Isaiah 60:1: “Arise and shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you”.

protected by reCAPTCHA

The Apostle, who is also the founder of the Church, stressed that the legacy of peace and unity begins with effective messages that church leaders must continue to preach to foster reconciliation and tolerance.

He explained that this is a time when church leaders and other organizations should be engaging in prayers and fasting to ask God that the election should be in line with the principles of democracy that embraces peace and unity.

He quoted the Book of Matthew 21:22 which reads: “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive if you have faith”.

“Peaceful co-existence between Church and political leaders, through the casting of votes, has the power to build or destroy the heritage of Malawi,” said Apostle Kachepa.

One of the crusade congregants, Pastor Ezekiel Chanamuna, from the Malawi Assemblies of God, concurred with Kachepa, saying church leaders should be at the forefront of promoting democracy.

“It’s not only the responsibility of political leaders to promote democracy, church leaders should be duty bearers in promoting good governance through voting.

“I would like those who have registered to come in large numbers to cast their votes peacefully, I’m also appealing to political leaders to encourage their followers to remain calm whether they win or lose, let us exercise our democratic rights responsibly,” said Chanamuna.

Baptist Convention of Malawi (BACOMA) President Reverend Dalitso Matekenya has called on women in the Southern African region not to retreat or be faint, but to watch and pray without ceasing despite the challenges they are facing.

Rev. Matekenya made the sentiments in Lilongwe when he opened the Baptist Women’s Union of Southern Africa (BWUSA) Conference taking place in Lilongwe from 31^st July to 3^rd August.

protected by reCAPTCHA

He advised the women not to stop believing and dreaming noting that the world is a crooked place and things have turned upside down with evil rising.

The BACOMA President described the gathering as a spiritual assembly and a birthing place for revival, in raising mothers of generations as found in Proverbs 31:25–29 which talks of the wise woman who builds her house with her own hands.

The meeting which has drawn the participation of Baptist women in the Sothern Africa Development Community (SADC) region under the theme “Women of purpose” will also help to ignite and spread the gospel.

Different speakers are expected to make presentations on a wide range of topics such as leadership development, gender based violence among others and encourage them how to overcome using the scriptures.

Whilst acknowledging the hard times Malawi and the rest of the region is going through, he however challenged them to be women of purpose and faith.

“These women are living in a darkening world where evil has taken place, so our message to these women is that they need to be strong, they need to know who they are and also not stop doing what God wants them to do because if they want to be successful in this time and age, they need to do what God wants them to do.

“The devil fears a praying woman, let your prayers break evil foundations; let us seek to be transformed and be ignited by the power of the Holy Spirit” he enthused.

Matekenya was hopeful the gathering will be a turning point in their walk with God.

“May the spirit of unity dwell richly in us. Let us arise as Mary’s, Deborah’s and never bow to the evils of this world”.

Realising the women’s role in the church, BACOMA supported them financially in organizing the conference noting the impact it has on family and church structures. 

Baptist Women of Southern Africa President Reverend Naomi Chaane underscored on the importance of the theme which calls on them to reflect on the strength, dignity, and influence of a woman who walks with purpose.

She said the theme resonates with the challenges women in the region are facing adding that it will uplift their spirits and help in the healing process.

 “We encourage them that we are made in God’s image. God has a purpose about me; God didn’t just create a human being without a purpose, so God has a purpose about me and I must know it.

“These verses remind us that purposeful living is not just about doing, but about being strong in faith, wise in counsel, and consistent in love. In a world that often challenges our value and voice, we gather here to be refreshed, recharged, and realigned with God’s plan for us as women who lead, serve, nurture, and build. So I must live prayerfully, I must pray unceasingly so that I will hear God speaking to me”

Baptist Women’s Union of Malawi President Jaqueline Kalenga expressed her excitement in hosting the four day conference at the African Bible College.

She called on the women to celebrate their unique callings placed on their lives and redefine them in line with the challenges being faced.

“My advice would be a woman of purpose does not look to the left or right, she is focused; we need to be focused. In this world we’ll face many many challenges and in this world, we’ll face so many setbacks but we need to be focused.

A woman of purpose is always courageous, is intentional and prayerful. So I believe that this message will also impact women as we forge ahead, as we forge ahead to our God:

The delegates are coming from Swaziland, Zambia, Kenya, South Africa and Namibia and Malawi.