The Partnership
The Dingwall Castle Street Kirk Session is partnered with a church in Malawi. The congregation is Balaka CCAP in Blantyre Synod, whose minister is now the Rev. Matola, who was appointed to take over from the Rev. Peter Kandulu. The Rev. and Mrs. Matola were inducted to Balaka on 28th March 2010. The CCAP stands for Church of Central Africa Presbyterian. ‘Blantyre Synod’ is one of three major Presbyterian churches in Malawi each of which are independent denominations. Blantyre Synod is in the south of Malawi. Nkhoma Synod is in central Malawi. And Livingstonia Synod operates in the north of Malawi. Peter plus three of his congregation (Justin, Clifton & Carol) visited us from 19th September to 12th October 2009. During their visit we signed a formal partnership agreement which can be viewed here. Our initial plans to help Balaka can be viewed here. When Peter Kandulu, Balaka's previous minister, was at Zomba Theological College he sang with the Shalom Crusaders choir. Listen to the choir [click here] as you browse our site.
The Rev. Matola has many challenges in Balaka. Two of the biggest are:
-
Transportation. There are four congregations under his charge, and 34 congregations in the presbytery of Livilidzi. Some of these congregations are 137 kilometres away from his main station and the only transport is to cycle!
-
Numbers: The minister has many parishioners to serve. Balaka has 2500 members, plus 800 from the other congregations he serves, and so this poses a big challenge.
The Twinning Process
Each Kirk Session has accepted the twinning proposals of the other, and so this exciting adventure has started. Several congregations in the Kirk have individual twinning arrangements with churches in places as far apart as Africa and India, and each has found that the benefits and enthusiasm generated are a real blessing.
More information about Peter Kandulu, the former minister of Balaka, can be found here.
Expectations
We can exchange things to pray about. We can learn about each others’ worship. We can share in each others needs – perhaps there will be practical ways we can help. The twinning will give us a window on Jesus’ church elsewhere in the world, in a totally different culture, but sharing the same faith. More details will emerge as the formal twinning-process develops. The congregation will be up-dated as information comes in.
