“I am too poor”

In January Tshepang visited Malawi to spend some time with a Malawian missions organization. Whilst there he was involved in training mission committee leaders of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) organized by Frontier Mision International (FMI). During the training, one of the church leaders walked over to Tshepang with a question. “I feel called to go as a missionary, but I am too poor. My church can’t support me financially so how can I go”? What should be our answer to questions like this? We get those a lot. Should people from poorer backgrounds be excluded from the call to make disciples of all nations? Surely God will understand, right? Or not? How do we send missionaries from parents of the world where missions is not yet fully understood and supported? These are questions we grapple with on a daily basis.  Having been involved in missions for over 10 years we totally understand this man’s predicament. As Paul says in Phil 4:12, we know what it means to be in need. The scarcity of resources has many times made us ponder upon what could be sustainable ways to send African missionaries and of ensuring we continue in this path for the long haul.  We still don’t have an answer to that complex question. Do you perhaps have an answer for us? We would love to hear from you on that. 

Graduates of the Understanding World Evangelisation (UWE) Course in Malawi

SOUTHERN REGION UPDATE

• The Nampula team has now finally arrived. They have now started their training which should go on for the next few months. Please pray for this team that the Lord will give them fruit as they reach out to the Mwani people.
• The team leaders for the Nampula team,  Marcelo and Evelyn De Costa just took up a new role as the AIM Mozambique leaders. Please pray for them as they settle into this new role. Mozambique is a very vast country and the teams are quite spread. They have a lot to do and a lot to learn. Please pray for this couple as they start their new role.
• Janette Hughes will spend a few weeks in Mozambique visiting our teams there. Pray for fruitful visits and for encouragement for our members.
• We have 3 country leadership transitions coming up later this year. We will have new leaders in Lesotho, Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands. Please pray for these new country leaders as they start their new roles. Pray for us and our team to know how best to support them.
• We have 2 upcoming surveys in March and May. We are currently visiting  Mauritius to explore partnerships and ministry opportunities here. Please pray that as we spend time with leaders and visit different parts of this country we will get clarity on what God will have AIM do here. 
• Mat Linley will travel with the AIM South America Director for a survey in Angola in April. Pray that the Lord will open our eyes to see opportunities for ministry and for God to connect them with the right partners. 
• Mat will be visiting Lesotho later this month to support our new Unit Leader there as he starts his new role. 
• Chris and Sarah Power will visit Mayotte in April. Pray for a fruitful time of encouragement for the team on the Island. 

Know Our Office Team

• Mat Linley – Regional Administrative Officer. 
• Chris Power – Regional Personnel  (Human Resource) Officer
• Janette Hughes –Regional Training and Development Officer

Some of the AIM Nampula Team

CELL GROUP

In our last newsletter, we mentioned that we were starting an 8 weeks training for our small group. The training is going on very well and we are having great conversations about missions with the group. The cell group will go on outreach on the 28th of April. 

Early this year the leadership of the church asked us to roll out the same training for the other cell groups in the church. So, we recently had training for church cell group leaders. We did vision casting for missions and did training on how to facilitate the Compass training. Please pray that this will be a fruitful exercise that will create interest for missions. 

Cell Group Leaders Training

Do you still remember our friend Gabriel? We wrote about him wanting to pursue a career in missions. He recently enrolled for Theological studies at a Bible College in Nairobi. Please continue to pray for this brother. Pray that he will continue to encounter the Father as He studies His word. 

Friend thank you for your partnership in the gospel. Your prayers and financial support enable us to continue serving our Lord. Thank you for your obedience in serving God with us.  

With Love

Tshepang, Queen, Lethabo and Ntungamili