Prayer is such an important part of supporting African Enterprise. It’s one of the gifts you can give Africa – your time in prayer. And Africa needs your prayers now more than ever.
A couple of months ago when we compiled our Prayer Diary for May, June and July, we did not know the challenges that we would be facing. As always we look at our calendar and prepare the prayer points around the mission activities happening during that month. This time however, what we planned three months ago has changed enormously from what we are currently facing. The number of coronavirus infections are increasing drastically daily in Africa and more than ever we need to pray for our teams and the people in Africa.
As our CEO, Ben Campbell mentioned in the Prayer Diary:
“Please pray especially for the vulnerable refugee populations, and other marginalised communities, that have less access to help. In all things, our hope and confidence remain firmly in the Lord! As Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) says: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” May God bless, strengthen and encourage you today, as you continue to pray for the salvation and healing of people in Africa. “
Throughout June and July, please join with us in prayer for all of our AE Teams. They are all facing unprecedented times. We will keep you up to date with all the latest articles and responses from our teams as far as possible on our website and facebook page.
Updated prayer requests will also be uploaded to the PrayerMate App.
We are also in the last few days of our Prayer and Fasting Season ending on Pentecost Sunday with a Global Day of Prayer.
Additionally, let us know if you are interested in starting or joining a prayer group. It can be among you and your friends, families, colleagues or members of your church. You can meet face to face or online and as frequent as you want. Let’s gather in the name of Jesus and pray for Africa. Please send an email directly to ae@aeint.org if you would like to be part of or to start a prayer group.
Thank you for spending time in prayer for African Enterprise.
Malawi is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, often described as “the warm heart of Africa” because of the friendliness of its people. Around 65 times smaller than Australia (1), Malawi has an estimated population of around 21 million people (2). The average person in Australia earns nearly 100 times more than an average person in Malawi (3). Although 4 out of 5 Malawians rely on agriculture for income (4), less than 3% of the land is irrigated (4), which makes these small land owners particularly vulnerable to the effects of drought. Population growth has placed additional pressure on the nation’s agricultural sector (2) and a lack of strong democratic leadership (4) has weakened its economy in recent years.
In its mission to evangelise the cities of Africa, in both Word and Deed, African Enterprise has been proclaiming the Gospel and strengthening the Church of Malawi for over 30 years. AE Malawi has also been involved with water and sanitation projects, and since 2009, runs a women’s vocational training centre. Here, vulnerable women, many of whom have turned to prostitution, are trained in tailoring and given their own sewing machines, and thus provided with the opportunity to start their own small businesses.
In the last year, food insecurity has reached crisis point for many individuals in Malawi (5), with a sharp increase in the price of maize. Our church partners in Malawi have reported a decline in church attendance, as congregation members have been out in search of food. In response to this crisis, and in obedience to God’s Word to “look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27), African Enterprise is partnering with the local church to supply maize and legumes to families at risk. These include child-headed households, widows and the elderly.
In addition, AE Malawi founded its Management and Leadership Development Training Centre (MALDEC) in October 2019. MALDEC offers a short course in practical strategic management for community leaders of various professional backgrounds. At the recent graduation of its first and second cohort of students, Mr Rangford Chokotho, chairperson of the African Enterprise Malawi Board, encouraged graduates to use the knowledge gained from this program to contribute to Malawi’s growth and development.
At African Enterprise, as we partner with all levels of society in Malawi, from its most vulnerable to its leaders, we believe that this beautiful nation can look forward to a future filled with hope.
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The AE Malawi Lilongwe South Mission for Jesus concluded this week with many new souls added to the Kingdom. Last year, the team reached the Lilongwe North neighbourhoods and the local churches were so energised by the events that our team saw the opportunity to partner with the Southern districts as well.
The mission suffered from lack of adequate funding which meant that they had less help and fewer resources to reach the district fully. Thankfully the generosity of local people helped get the team through and many lives were changed. For example, one company donated the use of their stage and audio equipment for the opening and closing rallies where many made confessions of faith.
The mission’s opening rally began with the Salvation Army Brass Band leading the mission team on a parade through the streets, gathering up people as they went. When they arrived at the rally site, they had approximately 2500 people in tow! They all listened intently when former AE CEO, Stephen Lungu preached the Gospel and at the end, over 250 people made confessions of faith in Christ!
Next, the team set its sights on the community leadership by holding a leadership luncheon. 171 leaders attended from all levels of local leadership. Rhino Chiphiko, a Member of Parliament attended as well as some from the Shadow Cabinet and other local and civic leaders. The mission team spoke to those in attendance about the importance of leading in humility and following the example that Christ set for us in His leadership. Many were touched by the event including one Military Chief who told the team that she decided to leave behind her belief in traditional ancestor worship because of what she heard during the luncheon! Praise God!
Throughout the week, the mission teach reached seven different schools, held open air evangelism rallies, Jesus Film showings and door to door evangelism. By the end of the week, the team had reached 14,783 people with the Gospel and of those 2202 had made confessions of faith in Christ! We’re thanking God for each one of them!
Evangelism in a Brothel
Maggie (26) is a prostitute and was at work in a brothel when she encountered the AE mission volunteers. One of them spoke to her about Christ’s love for her and about His desire to give her a new life with Him. Maggies heart was melted by those words. “I felt like my heart could beat again for the first time in a long time,” she said. “I realised in that moment that I’ve done wrong things in the sight of God and I felt so low and ashamed. I pleaded with the lady to tell me what to do and she helped me confess my sin to Christ and led me into salvation. This day is unlike any day I’ve ever had! I feel like everything has changed for me today.”
In order to protect Maggie from further engagement in prostitution, the team took her from the brothel and placed her in AE’s home for vulnerable women in which they are trained in tailoring. She’ll begin the training program soon. Praise God!
While at the brothel, some of the other volunteers spoke to a DJ named Anthony who was playing music in the brothel. They began to speak to the young man about why he had chosen to work at a brothel. He explained that after his parent’s divorce he had to leave school because his mother could no longer afford the fees. He began taking work wherever he could get it, even if it was in a brothel.
As the team explained the Gospel to Anthony he excitedly accepted Christ and told the team, “I want to be a Christian and know the love of God in my life. I don’t want to do this job, I want to do something that honours God.” Later that day, one of the pastors involved in the mission heard about Anthony’s desire to find different work and promised to give him a job. Upon hearing the news, Anthony left the brothel and joined in with the mission team to help.
The news of a converted prostitute and DJ from the local brothel shook up the township to its very core! One volunteer heard as he was disembarking from the bus how the town had been turned upside down by such radical conversions!
Preservation
During the week, many people were touched by the love of God and local churches have already started following up with those who made confessions of faith. One pastor reported that 20 new converts showed up in his church on the Sunday following the mission.
Please pray for the churches as they work diligently to bring in those who made decisions for Christ and pray for those who are beginning their new life of faith! We’re so thankful for our AE Malawi team and their diligence in the face of many struggles. Their passion and dedication to see the Gospel reach the lost in Malawi is evident. Pray for our AE Malawi Team that God will bless them and provide for them in every way.
The Lilongwe South Mission has reached into some of the most needy and desperate places in Lilongwe!
The mission concluded last week and it has been an amazing time of seeing God’s faithfulness.
Last year, our Malawi team reached out to Lilongwe City North with great success. Many people heard and were changed by the Gospel. This year, the team partnered with the churches in the southern part of the city to see God’s message change hearts there too.
Lilongwe City South has experienced a spike in gang crime and prostitution in recent years and the local leaders felt convinced that now was the perfect time to reach out with a message of hope.
The mission began last Sunday with an opening rally which approximately 2500 people attended and many made confessions of faith in Christ. Stephen Lungu spoke to the crowd about the importance of having a relationship with Christ.
The team ministered throughout the week with school outreaches and mobile rallies. Many people have responded to the Gospel and have been connected with local churches.
One volunteer team met a young prostitute who accepted Christ as her Saviour. She was residing in a brothel so the team took her to the safety of a women’s centre and she will be eligible to begin AE Malawi’s vulnerable women’s training course in January! Praise God!
The team also took time to meet with local leaders. With general elections coming in the spring of next year, possible outbreaks of violence are at the forefront of many people’s concerns. The team charged the leaders to be servants of their communities and to operate with integrity in all their dealings. Most of all, they encouraged the leaders to look to Christ for His leadership as they attempt to lead others.
The Senior Group Village Headman, Mtsinje spoke to those in attendance saying, “With what we have learned on how to serve the communities by disregarding the differences in races and culture, it shall be easy for us leaders to serve these multi-cultural communities. I would, therefore, like to urge my fellow leaders to emphasise to their respective community members the importance of loving each other despite racial differences. I express my gratitude to African Enterprise for bringing different leaders from all city sections to tell us more about God’s love towards His people. We thank this organisation very much for this Biblical teaching which is transformational. This is indeed a special gift to this area.”
As the mission continues throughout the weekend, please pray for the team and the many who have come into a new life with Christ this week! We’re excited to continue to share with you all the amazing things Christ has done in Malawi because of your support and prayers.
When Anastazia Joseph divorced her husband, she was left with four children to care for. She tried getting a job but no one would hire her. She was already 30 and had very few formal qualifications.
In desperation, she took up work as a prostitute. 
“I was doing it only so that I should have something by the end of the day to feed myself and my children,” she said.
After a year of this work, she found a job as a security guard and spent long hours watching the properties of various companies. It was lonely, thankless work and she was sometimes treated unfairly.
“The last company I worked at would take deductions from my salary for mistakes that I didn’t even realise I was doing,” Anastazia said.
She had to keep going to provide for her children because she had no other options.
Then on 17th October, 2017, something happened that changed her life forever.
“My church had a crusade in one of big stadiums in Lilongwe and the preacher shared about eternal life and about what one needs in order to attain this everlasting life,” she said
Though she was a faithful church member, Anastazia had never thought about her own need for eternal life.
“At the end of the crusade, the preacher asked if anyone wanted to commit their lives to Jesus so that He could be their Master, so I raised my hand.”
She followed the pastor’s prayer, confessing her sin and giving her life to Christ.
Not long after this, Anastazia switched companies and started guarding the property of a group called African Enterprise Malawi. After a few months of work the team leader, who had noticed the long hours she was doing, told her about a sewing school for women that African Enterprise ran every year.
“He said this when he saw how challenging the job I was doing, especially as a lady on my own. I didn’t hesitate!”
She ran to the project organiser to apply and was accepted in the 2018 class of women.
“For me to come to this vocational centre is by God’s love which I saw through the National Team Leader of African Enterprise Malawi,” she testified.
“I am being reached with the Gospel every day and have already learnt how to run a sewing machine and make straight lines!”
Things are looking up for Anastazia. Not only is she learning a new skill with which to make money and start a business, but God has also answered her prayers and she is engaged to be married.
Christ, her Master, is providing for her needs through the help of African Enterprise.
Lusaka Leadership Initiative to Zambia has begun, and AE International Missions Director Emmanuel Kwizera has sent through news of the exciting launch of the mission.
Remember to follow AE Australia on Facebook and head to our website for the latest updates, photos, testimonies and more.
Saturday, 4 November
On 4 November, bright and early, the Lusaka Leadership Initiative was launched with a ‘Serve the city’ event. Church leaders and the AE Mission Team worked together to clean the most populated streets in Lusaka, including Cha Cha Cha Road and Freedom Way.
The reason behind beginning every AE mission with street cleaning, is to challenge community members to see that though AE mission volunteers are cleaning the streets, Jesus can clean their hearts. In Lusaka, street cleaning was specifically used to remind leaders to serve first their community, and that the Lusaka Leadership Initiative is about more than just events, but about an ongoing transformation of African cities.
Emmanuel explains,
It’s more than cleaning. We are working to transform African people to take up leadership responsibilities in their communities. You have to combine evangelism and prayer with caring for your community to show your faith is living and active.”
AE worked with Jesus Cares Ministry to mobilise churches to be part of this activity of cleaning the city.
One mission volunteer, Margaret Kantai shared her joy at seeing the mission begin in this way,
“It was amazing to see people giving their lives to Christ, and seeing churches get involved for the first time in cleaning the city!”
More cleaning will continue as the Mission continues this week.
Please continue praying for the other leadership meetings that will take place during the week, and the following prayer requests from AE Malawi Missions Director and Lusaka Leadership Mission Coordinator Abel Sauti-Phiri.
- Pray for the church in Zambia to catch the vision of reaching Leaders with the gospel
- Pray for The mission committee and leadership coordinators
- Pray for all the AE International speakers
- Pray for the heart of Leaders to be opened for the gospel
- Pray for the preservation and the commitment of the church in Zambia to continue
- Pray for the finances needed
