Bible-trained pastors, villagers in Malawi confront false teaching head-on

By April 22, 2025

Malawi (MNN) — Deep in the rural areas of Malawi, pastors often have little to no training. Some don’t even own a Bible.

For the past two years, FMI has hosted pastor trainings in Malawi — and they’re bearing abundant spiritual fruit.

FMI’s Patrick Anthony says, “Out of 86 pastors last year, they were able to teach and share with over 2,400 people. They reported that in this past year, 450 churches had been planted; and they also reported that over 30,000 people placed their faith in Christ!”

The training is also helping pastors and their churches recognize and resist false teaching.

“One of the coolest stories that I heard was that there was a self-proclaimed prophet who had walked into one of the villages where three of the pastors from the first conference were from,” says Anthony.

“As this prophet came into this area, he was apparently preaching a prosperity gospel. When he came in, the villagers told him, ‘You’re not preaching the right gospel. You’re preaching the prosperity gospel. You need to leave.’”

Pastor Chikumbu, a pastor in Malawi who received a Bible and training with FMI. (Photo courtesy of FMI)

In addition to training, FMI provides each pastor with a Bible. But the need is even greater.

“One of the pastors, he said, ‘Listen, we’re really appreciative that we all have a Bible now. But our people need Bibles too,’” Anthony shares.

You can help. By donating to FMI’s tangible resources fund, you can put the Word of God in the hands of spiritually hungry villagers in Malawi.

Click here to give!

Then, pray for pastors in Malawi to grow in wisdom and biblical knowledge as they make disciples for Jesus. Pray for continued growth, boldness, and discernment in the Malawian Church to reject false teachers.

 

 

 

Header photo: Historic brick church in rural Malawi. (Photo by Chisomo Gondwe/Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/historic-brick-church-architecture-in-rural-setting-29306403/)


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