Developing A Strategy For Mobilizing Ministry On Behalf Of The Community Of Lilongwe, Malawi

Statement of the Problem Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world with over half of the population living below the poverty line (Fekete et al., 2007). The country has had a Seventh-day Adventist presence for the last 100 years. Although the Adventist Disaster and Relief Agency (ADRA) is addressing hunger in Malawi, there is a need for church congregations to do something at a local level to combat poverty, HIV/AIDS, disease, and hunger which are all rampant (Pembrey, 2010b). Lilongwe is the headquarters of many aid agencies but the worst symptoms of poverty exist within the city limits. The problems facing the country are replicated there and are worse because people from all parts of the country migrate to this city (Kemp, Mann, Simwaka, Salaniponi, & Squire, 2007). However, Kawale, Area 25, and Likuni Seventh-day Adventist churches in this area are not addressing these needs in a holistic manner. Method The research method that I used was the Archival Document Analysis. This method analyzes the available data. The documents that were studied included the Adventist Mission Board Archives, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church Archives, church papers, National Statistical Census Reports, Lilongwe City Assembly Documents, Government of Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), Government of Malawi Millennium Development Goals (MDG), International Monetary Fund Reports, Africa Development Bank Reports, and dissertations by some Malawian Adventist scholars. All the above sources did not contain a comprehensive, holistic approach to fight poverty, HIV/AIDS, disease, and hunger in Malawi, specifically in Lilongwe. Adventist sources that were available did not show how the Adventist church is ministering to the needs of its community in the city. Expectations for the Project This project may help to advance the kingdom of God in Malawi, for the project may serve as a model of a holistic ministry approach to evangelism and community development. The implementation of this ministry strategy has potential to transform the lives of people in the immediate areas of impact that surround the Kawale, Area 25, and Likuni Seventh-day Adventist congregations. The adoption and implementation of this ministry strategy by all churches in Malawi may position the Seventh-day Adventist Church as an agent for change in society and the country. This project has the potential to transform the quality of life in various Malawian communities because the practical steps that are suggested in this project will help people to take charge of their own destiny and thus challenge poverty and other societal problems. On a personal level, this project will help me to develop my pastoral leadership skills. In a bigger picture, this project will encourage churches to address societal problems as a part of a holistic mission strategy