General calls for integrity and visibility during first visit to Malawi
General calls for integrity and visibility during first visit to Malawi
13 October 2017
General Andre Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox made their first visit to the African nation of Malawi for commissioning and congress meetings.
About 500 excited Salvationists and friends gathered at Chileka International Airport to welcome The Salvation Army's world leaders, General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox, to Malawi for commissioning and congress meetings.
Despite having lived elsewhere in Africa, this was the first time the international leaders had been to the country. The joyful and enthusiastic gathering began five days of celebration, challenge, dedication and fellowship. The General challenged those gathered to be ready for God to speak to them.
High on the hill overlooking the community in Bangwe, the General opened and dedicated the new corps hall before a vast crowd of Salvationists and community members. He challenged the corps members to respect the new facility by looking after it and using it for the purpose it was built - saving souls and transforming lives.
The General and Commissioner Cox open the new Bangwe Corps.
The General noted that the building could be seen from a distance and that the ministry of this corps should be a beacon for the whole community. After he cut the ribbon and unlocked the door, the hall filled to capacity for the celebration meeting that followed.
The international leaders were then driven to another area of the large property and told of the plans that the Malawi Territory has for the site. It was explained to them that this property was ideal for integrated mission - that the vision for the site is to be truly integrated with the surrounding community so the presence of God may be revealed.
The Saturday night celebration concluded with several hundred people kneeling at the mercy seat in response to the General’s Bible message.
On Sunday morning, the General ordained and commissioned 14 new Salvation Army officers in a moving ceremony. He then enrolled 142 senior soldiers and 105 junior soldiers. Thirty people responded to a call to officership.
Sunday meetings were attended by the Mayor of Blantyre, Wild Ndipo, who had received the General and Commissioner Cox in his mayoral office a few days earlier.
Worship throughout the congress and commissioning was supported by a South Africa Territory Women’s Band and a six-piece brass group from Canada, as well as the Malawi Territorial Band.
Throughout the five days of the visit, the General exhorted Salvationists to be “people of integrity who would go out into the world to do war against poverty, against exclusion and against sin in the world”.
Narelle Gurney, a Salvationist from the Australia Eastern Territory, is Project Officer for the Malawi Territory.
Comments
No comments yet - be the first.