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Report #3 from Malawi

6/15/2015

 
Since Alan is currently in Malawi, we are providing excerpts from his weekly report when available in lieu of his normal articles we publish on Saturdays …
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As the third week of my trip comes to a close, my weariness over the long hours is tempered by the satisfaction of what has been accomplished in such a short time. What is most rewarding is the knowledge that the worst skeptics of my decision to work with remote villages have now become convinced and have admitted that going out into the villages has accomplished far more good than anyone thought. Our lessons this year are focusing primarily on “Christian Living” and “Family.” There is no longer any doubt that these lessons are truly changing the lives of the brethren here.

Another significant problem here in the churches here is the lack of spiritual growth among the saints. They are simply not growing as Christians. They listen to sermons, but feel no reason to do anything with them. They are hearing, but not learning or doing. I have developed a new lesson to get them to understand the need for personal growth and consecration.

Growing as a Christian
Everyone who obeys the gospel is compared to a newborn baby. Jesus affirmation that one must be born again of water and the Spirit (Jn. 3:3-5) proves that God sees us coming forth from the water of baptism as infants who must grow up all over again, but this time spiritually instead of physically (1Cor. 3:1-9). ... We have been born again with the incorruptible seed of God’s word and are expected to see ourselves as spiritual
infants who need the pure milk of the word so we can grow. God wants us to grow up healthy and strong just as every mother wants to see her baby do. The writer of Hebrews made God’s expectations clear.
  • “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Heb. 5:12-13). 
After obedience to the gospel, the clock begins ticking and God closely monitors our growth in knowledge of His word. After a certain point, we should be able to teach what we have been taught. Not necessarily as a preacher or teacher, but as we learn about repentance, baptism, or eternal life we should be able to talk to others about them and thus teach.  ...
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For more, 

1) click on Malawi_2015_Report_3 (pdf) to display the full report
2) select the "more…  >  Malawi" menu item to see the report, associated pictures, and previous reports.


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    Alan Hitchen

    Alan is a preacher for the Holly Street church of Christ in Denver, CO. He has preached in various other locations in his +35 year career.  He is also active in spreading the Gospel to Malawi, Africa.

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