Harvest joy among the Yao people

 

“So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers” – Acts 16:5​​​​​​​

​​​The joy of the Holy Spirit is in rich abundance as many are coming to know Christ among the Yao people group in Eastern Malawi.

Last Spring, a Church Shelter was built and dedicated in a rural area of the country where Christ is least known. The theme of the celebration was ‘Joy and Thanksgiving’, which echoed through the singing, words of gratitude, and prayers, reflecting the power and grace of the Holy Spirit which was clearly present.

Since its dedication, the shelter has enabled people from surrounding areas to meet and worship Christ each week, and to deepen their faith through discipleship. The church’s hope is that these disciples will be able to reach out to others in their community to create more new disciples. As a result, the congregation is continuing to grow, adding new believers after baptizing them in a local stream.

Historically, the village chiefs of this area have been reluctant to allow teams into the villages to lead Bible studies.  However, today, the Lord is softening their hearts and they are allowing more Bible studies to take place, bringing light to new areas.

Given the African oral tradition, Bible study participants enjoy reading the stories about Jesus aloud and are beginning to understand that Jesus truly is Lord.  In one of the communities, the believers also took it upon themselves to build their own church shelter of tree poles and grass, where they can now meet and worship.

One local believer shares this testimony:

“I was Muslim, but am now Christian, and Jesus Christ changed my life.  Now I am a new creation.  To my family and friends, I want you to know Jesus is Lord.  The light, the life, and the Savior of your life.  You cannot know the truth unless you have Jesus Christ as He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!”

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Pray

• Give thanks that the joy of the Lord has settled upon, and is growing among, the Yao people in Eastern Malawi.
• Give thanks for the provision of the church shelter, where local Christians can meet and grow in their faith.
• Ask for the continuing growth of the Yao church in Eastern Malawi, and that God would supply more workers and the financial provision necessary to continue this crucial ministry.