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"The true Gospel has brought us freedom in Christ. I don't want anything else!"
It has been five years since the Lord started a great work in my heart through Miki Hardy and the CTMI team. I have seen the lives of my congregation changed deeply and put in order by the message of the cross. What the Lord has achieved in relationships between us pastors in Malawi is truly a miracle.
I have been a pastor for 25 years. I was always zealous for the Lord, but controlled and manipulated my congregation to follow the Lord with so many rules and regulations. You could say that really I was oppressing them with my efforts to please the Lord. We were a charismatic, Pentecostal church. We called for people to be born again, but then buried them in regulations; women were not allowed to speak in church, and had to wear head coverings, and men were not allowed to wear jeans, etc. etc. We were convinced that we were the right church and no-one else had the truth like we did. At the same time, there were lots of problems: strife among leaders, people fighting for position; there were many divorces, and worldliness was residing in the church. I was so tired and discouraged.
Before CTMI came to us in Malawi, we thought relationships between pastors were formed naturally, based on having a common goal, and written agreements to work together. We soon realised that the foundation of the gospel demanded a non-superficial and deep working to bring us together in true unity. As He continues to teach us how to submit our lives to Him and to each other, we see our hearts being connected. By His Grace, we now see how much we need each other to work, live and build. We can give our lives for the Thandiwe School for Orphans together, and we are building relationships with many other Malawian pastors in other areas.
The true gospel has brought us freedom in Christ, and I don't want anything else. Now we have lost our legalism, the congregation is free and is led by the Spirit to take its place in the Lord's service. A great burden has been lifted off me. A team of three elders is becoming united in the Spirit as we lose our lives day by day.
There has also been a great change in the homes of the elders. Traditionally, my wife used to kneel when she gave me food or drink in the house. She was not allowed to dine with me when I had guests, but had to remain in the kitchen. Now the wives have freedom in their lives and hearts. Their freedom carries a sense of responsibility. Even our children are a great testimony to those around us. They don't fear me any more, but have found grace and love in my heart.
For me, it is very, very clear that, starting with me, my ministry, my family, and my church, we are all to submit to the true apostolic anointing on Miki's life, and to the calling that God has placed on his life. In so doing, we have opened up our lives and church to the CTMI team. I don't look at it as my church any more. I am part of a great team that the Lord is building in these last days, and I want all the various anointing in that team to come and feed God's people. It is very important for pastors in Africa to receive this revelation intact. There is so much division today, with each man doing his own thing in the church.
I want to assure everyone that we in Malawi are the living fruit of the Gospel working in the life of Miki and the CTMI elders. We thank them for 6 years of perseverance with us. Not one time have we ever felt alone.
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