Malawi: From Your Family to Theirs
Where did you first hear the Bible?
For many of us in Northern Ireland, we became familiar with Bible stories at a young age, from assemblies and RE lessons in school, from a church or youth club, or indeed, from our families. These stories taught us how to live, how to love, and how to grow.
Across the world, it is widely agreed that the basic unit of society is the family. It’s the primary place of social, physical, and spiritual development for children and this is no different in Malawi, where the family is at the heart of the community. Parents, grandparents, and carers are the first to teach children how to live, love, and grow.
However, for many families access to the Bible is limited – or non-existent. Sometimes the only way people get to hear from the Bible is when it is read in a church service, and even then, the church might not have one full Bible.
It’s hard for us to imagine this, especially when we think of the number of pew Bibles in our churches and the Bibles in our homes. Yet for a vast number of people in Malawi, the cost of a Bible puts a personal copy far out of their reach.
The Bible has been, and continues to be, a source of comfort, strength, guidance, and hope for millions of people around the world.
But how can a family grow in faith without God’s Word in their hands?
We believe that faith flourishes in the family home – not just in church buildings. Recognising this need, the Bible Society of Malawi have created Family Scripture Engagement Packs, which encourage family units to read the Bible together. Each pack contains a Bible in the local language, a Children’s Bible in Chichewa, and a Bible Reading Guide produced by Scripture Union Malawi. These packs are provided entirely free of charge to families, most of whom are rural farming families who fall into the 25% of the population living in extreme poverty. With a population of over 22 million people, that’s over 5.5 million people living in extreme poverty.
Your gift today could help a family learn God’s Word together.
The impact of these packs is real and lasting. Families are being transformed and are experiencing God’s peace, through the good news and hope that Scripture brings.
For 37-year-old Fiddes Lungu, receiving this pack was more than a gift, it was a lifeline in her darkest moment.
Fiddes was a committed member of her local church until her first child was born with severe developmental challenges meaning he couldn’t walk, talk or stand. “I needed to be doing everything for him, and I could not leave him alone to attend a church service”
For the Lungu family, living in Nkhata Bay, life became even harder when a storm destroyed their home in 2022. All their belongings and property were gone, and later that year, their firstborn son died.
The Lungu family were broken, homeless, and struggling with grief. The stress of the situation became too much and after several suicide attempts, Mrs Lungu returned to church one day where she learned the leadership had nominated her family to receive one of the Scripture Engagement Packs.
The family began to read the Bible together, and one day Mrs Lungu came across 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Mrs Lungu found peace, saying, “my family has been brought together because of this Bible.” This pack helped the Lungu family to learn how to live, love, and grow once again.
Today, Mrs Lungu, her husband, and 2 children are committed members of their church, serving in different ways, all because they were given one of these packs.
You can give this life-changing gift.
From One Family to Another
As you think about your own family, perhaps the Bible has been there in moments of celebration or seasons of sorrow. Perhaps it has shaped your values, caught your tears, guided your children, or strengthened your marriage.
Families in Malawi want that too, but they cannot get there without your help.
Will you give this life-changing gift from your family to theirs, today?
Share
Tell others about the Lungu family and their story of transformation. Perhaps you could include this project in your church prayers, or you could host a fundraiser in support of this vital work. Please contact the office if you would like to invite a speaker to come to your church or group.
Pray with Us
That families will experience the transforming power of God’s Word as they read it together.
For church leaders to encourage their members to read the Bible.
For continued financial support to provide these packs, free-of-charge, to those who need them.
Donate
Your support today will help the Bible Society of Malawi to continue this vital work.
£38 could provide one family, like the Lungu’s, with a free Scripture Engagement Pack.
£190 could provide five families with the tools to engage with the Bible together at home.
£380 could provide Scripture Engagement Packs for ten families, transforming whole communities with God’s Word.
In the event this appeal is fully funded, surplus funds will be used for similar projects through UBS around the world.