Victory through unexpected grace

When Paul references Isaiah in 1 Cor. 15 – “Death is swallowed up in victory” – he’s referring to a future resurrection day. But at World Renew, mercy and justice work is about participating in God’s vision for lives being fully reconciled (in right relationship with God, with creation, with self and with one another) here and now. World Renew’s Church in Community groups in Malawi bring small groups of disciples together to determine what they can do to help with those relationships.

In Asafu village, Malawi, Church in Community members have been challenged to reconsider who among them may be most vulnerable. Luka, who has been participating since 2016, explains, “After learning about how to love one another through Bible studies, we agreed to go and visit those who are sick. At the hospital, we’re able to minister to people and encourage them to go back to church.” The members also help provide food and other necessities to patients, as hospitals in Malawi don’t provide these essentials. “Not only has my family’s life changed, but other people I’ve reached out to, their lives have changed too. That motivates me to continue,” says Luka. “When we meet for Bible study we grow spiritually, but we also have an impact on the community.”

Yamikani, 21, participates in music ministry at his local church, in Liyelo, several hundred kilometres from Luka’s village. He lives with his parents, sleeping in a small, dilapidated kitchen with a traditional thatched roof. Thatched roofs require regular maintenance that isn’t affordable for most families, including Yamikani’s. Unbeknownst to the household, the poles supporting the roof had become termite infested and one night the structure collapsed on a sleeping Yamikani, injuring his left eye and fracturing his hip bone.

Yamikani’s elderly parents had no means to get him to the hospital 40 kilometers away. That’s when the church stepped in with abundant mercy to change the story – to swallow up destruction in abundance.

Church in Community members rallied support for Yamikani to be taken to the hospital and get all he needed while there. The church contributed 30,000 kwacha ($25) towards transport and food and the community contributed 25,000 kwacha ($20) towards purchasing crutches and groceries. After Yamikani was discharged, both the church and the community continued to offer him food, cash and other life supporting items.

But much more than that, the church gave Yamikani hope. They provided start-up capital for a small-scale cassava and fresh maize business and a bicycle to use as transport to get these goods to market. Yamikani has fully recovered and is now able to participate in church activities and support his parents. “I am thankful to the church and all members of the community,” says Yamikani. Inspired by the generosity of the church, Yamikani shares, “I will be supporting other people who are in need using some of the profits from my business.” And so, he too is working towards God’s vision of lives fully reconciled.

This page is made possible through a partnership with CRC Ministries within Canada.