Some Reflections ...
by Wesley S. K. Daniel

I recently returned from a visit to Malawi, a very small country in southern central Africa. The country has a population of about 10.5 million people, and economically it is one of the five poorest countries of the world. The United Methodist Church there is in its infant stages of growth and development, and is currently considered a "mission area" under the episcopal leadership of Bishop Jokomo of Zimbabwe.

The United Methodist Church in Malawi is rapidly growing as in many other African countries. The evangelistic efforts are primarily carried out in rural villages (in open air preaching as in the days of the Wesleys), where persons have never heard the gospel and the name of Christ. Teams of lay evangelists travel by foot and or by bicycle to very remote parts of the country and to remote villages to preach and teach the good news and the saving power found in Christ Jesus. As in the New Testament times, house churches and "open air" churches are established wherever people can come together for prayer, worship, and Christian discipleship.

We witnessed growth so rapid that there is a lack of leaders, of adequate training, of educational resources, of funds to support personnel, of funds for social and economic reforms initiated by the church, and generally of funds to maintain and keep up with the tremendous growth of the church. Over 65% of the general population in Malawi is Christian. The people of Malawi are most certainly a people of prayer, courage, and undaunted faith. They serve the Lord with very little; they give their all sacrificially and yet with so much joy and enthusiasm, even in the midst of their day-to-day hardships — poverty, famine, the epidemic of AIDS, and other obstacles. In many ways, the church in Malawi resembles the New Testament church in the Book of Acts.

After seeing and being moved by the powerful witness of our church in Malawi, I could not help but do some reflection into my own life and ministry and the life of The United Methodist Church in the USA. I became more convinced that the people called United Methodists in this country need a great spiritual awakening, revitalization, and renewal; more than ever before, we need the empowerment of God's Holy Spirit to effectively carry out the mission and ministry to which God has called us.

Renewal and reawakening is the outcome of fasting, fervent prayer, and seeking for the change of the status quo. When we prayerfully ask God for the renewal and spiritual awakening of souls, God will respond to the prayers of God's people. Ultimately, prayer IS the key to renewal and reawakening of our church today.

The passion to share the good news of the love of God and to make disciples and nurture them indeed becomes the church's chief purpose for its existence. The gospel is proclaimed with power and conviction; churches are planted and the lost are found and invited to responsible discipleship within the body of Christ; spiritual and numerical growth is witnessed and there is a mighty movement of God. Such an awakening is not new to us as Methodists. It has happened in our own history and it can and must happen again. If our church intends to be a vital and powerful witness in this century, we must return to the teachings of the Holy Scripture, to the teachings of Wesley and the early Methodists. We need to return to our basics!

I believe United Methodism in this country can be revived in this century if there is a spiritual and moral regeneration within our church today. We can indeed have a greater spiritual impact upon our own nation and the globe. We too can once again resemble the New Testament church!

posted 8-15-02