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Good News of Great Joy

“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12) The story of the first Christmas is being told to 280 children gathered for CFCM’s Christmas outreach to children in Phalombe. Children in Malawi have very different lives and needs from children in the UK, but the need of a Saviour is universal. As well as bringing gifts, the Christmas message was front and centre of CFCM’s event.

Fire for children’s ministry among CFCM trainers

“Thank God for this training. In fact, since I joined children’s ministry I have seen God being on my side and now CFCM has given me even more fire for the ministry”.

These are the words of one of CFCM’s volunteer trainers who attended this month’s Refresher course at Phalombe. Some children’s workers can feel very isolated and receive little encouragement. The Refresher course was a wonderful opportunity for CFCM’s trainers to have fellowship with others involved in the same ministry, to be reminded of the training received some years ago, to be updated on new issues, and gain more practical experience under the eyes of the CFCM staff team.

Likomo & Chizumulu Islands Training

A young boy on Chizumulu Island with his homemade guitar

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:13-14). This little boy on Chizumulu Island had probably never heard the Gospel explained to him in a way he could understand – until CFCM visited his island this summer.

CFCM Bible Club Survey

CFCM’s motto is “Reaching the children of Malawi with the Gospel”. In Malawi 43% of the population is aged 14 and under, and many of them are not hearing the Gospel. So the task of reaching them is huge. All Sunday school teachers who attend CFCM training seminars are encouraged to establish Bible clubs in schools and communities so that children who don’t go to Sunday school have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. We know that many of the teachers take up this challenge, because some of them keep in touch with the CFCM team and send reports of their work. From their reports we estimate that at least 7000 children hear the Gospel each week at CFCM Bible clubs, and countless more at Sunday school.

Pastors’ Conference

CFCM is continually looking for ways to support and encourage the Sunday school teachers who attend seminars. Many of them deal single-handedly with classes that are too big. The wide age range makes it hard to provide effective Bible teaching. Many struggle because they have no resources and sometimes no Bible of their own. One common concern is the lack of interest and help from church leaders.