At Christmas, we imagine the shepherds worshiping the Lord Jesus in a space shared with sheep, a donkey, and maybe a goat or two. The scene is peaceful and, even, sanitary in Nativity scenes, but what if your worship space were used every day to house livestock and lacked a proper roof to boot? Would your enthusiasm for weekly worship hold up to both the animal roommates and the rainy season?
Members of the Madalitso Baptist Church faced this challenge with resignation. Assembling despite the sudden downpours and potential for trouble underfoot, families were eager to hear and grow in God’s Word.
Pastor Phiri yearned for his congregation to grow and share the Gospel with more of the 1,500 villagers in Birataliko, but without a proper worship space, the dream remained unfulfilled. Then, a church construction donation made through You Turn Ministries changed their congregation’s worship location and outlook forever.
“Before the new church was built here, we believed in God, but had no proper place to worship,” relayed Pastor Phiri. “Now we are happy, and the change has already started. As of the first week in the new building, we are receiving new people and have grown from 45 to 70 people in worship.”
Madalitso Baptist Church is constructed to last for generations and is furnished with a pulpit and sturdy benches for the growing congregation. Bibles, hymnals, and Sunday School materials were also provided.
