In a small community in rural Malawi, a few children play outside when they spot a vehicle approaching down the dirt road. As it grows closer, one of them recognizes Benji and Stella, two church volunteers who have been visiting their community for the past few months.
The purpose of Benji and Stella’s visit that day was to see a woman named Leoni and bring her family a Food Pak. When they arrived at her home, she greeted them with a smile.
But it wasn’t always this way.
The first time that church members came to bring food, Leoni regarded them with suspicion. In her eyes, they were witch doctors, only handing out food so they could earn people’s trust and steal their souls. For Leoni, trust doesn’t come easily. With several children by different men who have all used and abandoned her, she didn’t have much reason to trust people who came to visit.
Still, she accepted the food that was offered and fed her children. She listened to what the church members had to say but didn’t want to talk to them.
The second time the church came to visit, Leoni smiled. After that first visit, she realized she had heard truth for the first time. As thankful as she was for the food, she was even more grateful to hear the gospel and hungry for more.
Leoni’s neighbor, Ruth, shared with Benji about the change in Leoni’s demeanor since the church started visiting.
She wouldn’t smile. She was always looking down. Now, it’s like a breath of fresh air. The church brought life to her.
Now, after Benji and Stella visit, all Leoni wants to do is talk about what they just shared with her. Her faith is vibrant and growing, and she’s not the only one.
When those children playing outside spotted Benji and Stella’s car approaching, they quickly disappeared but weren’t gone for long. Moments later, the number of children had multiplied several times over. While Benji was helping Leoni dive deeper into her faith, Stella and other church members shared Bible stories with a few dozen children in the neighborhood.
I wholeheartedly believe that God has selected these families not only to bestow His blessings upon them but also to enable them to become sources of blessing for others. I am convinced that God will use these families as instruments to share the gospel and demonstrate His love and grace among other families in the area. I see these families as the starting point for a larger transformation among many others.
Since launching the Mercy Network in Malawi in February 2024, several of our partner churches have discovered the need for smaller chairs in their church. They wanted a place for the children in these neighborhoods to sit. They wanted them to feel welcomed. They know that when the parents see how the church is loving their children, they will want to come and see what makes the church different.
Leoni’s initial reaction to the church was not unique. As the fifth most impoverished country in the world, Malawi is no stranger to foreigners claiming to want to help. Even the pastors of the nine Mercy Network churches took time to evaluate the impact that the Food Pak ministry would have on their congregation before committing to anything that might possibly compromise their ministry.
Ultimately, they all agreed that the Food Pak ministry was scripturally sound and even helped them see a component of mercy that they hadn’t realized was missing from their ministry.
We are humbled and blessed to call these faithful men and women of Malawi our ministry partners.
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