Greetings and Blessings to each one of you, dear friends in Jesus’ Name,
This Ruth’s Shawl Update enters your email box today filled with much gratitude and many praises to our Loving Heavenly Father. He has faithfully enabled the RS ministry to proclaim the Word of God in a distant and remote place like Malawi. Many of you have been a part of this labor of love since the very beginning …. In prayers, in obeying the Great Commission, funding, and most of all, your love for the Lord and the lost without a shepherd.
How RS thanks the Lord for your invaluable participation in furthering the Word of God to the men, women, and children of Malawi.
Jesus is the only door for anyone to enter into eternity, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9 and, of course, we are ambassadors of Christ and know our calling in Christ.
The heartbreak for us all is that so many near to us and far away do not know the Lord God Almighty, nor have they heard His Gospel through the Scriptures.
As you read this Update, please be aware and understand that teaching Jesus from His Word is the center of all the RS venues. The heart of the reason RS is in Malawi.
With this, RS is continuing to obey and trusting God to accomplish all He has given to RS as His assignment for reaching Malawians for His Namesake and Glory.
We invite you to join us … Steve, Nora and the RS Team
A Note from William
Operations Manager
The third quarter of the year, with no exception of challenges, has gone quickly. As Ambassadors for Christ, we are grateful to God for granting us the opportunity to serve Him even in the midst of these challenges: inflation, vehicle breakdowns, power blackouts, and public disturbances during National Elections.
We have remained committed to serving as Ambassadors for Christ in Malawi, with the overriding theme of teaching, training, and making disciples for Christ. Each department has steadily advanced toward achieving the goals and objectives that the Lord has set for Ruth’s Shawl. Many people in Malawi have been reached with the Gospel through the continued work of Ruth’s Shawl, and we are grateful for his provision and direction.
Training and Discipleship
Weekly Bible Study
(Youth and Adult)
The Bible has been consistently taught to children of all ages, and the children have gone through several books in the Bible with practical application to the principles of God’s word.
Pray for the children to grasp what God's spirit is speaking to them and to be able to have boldness to share it with each other and especially in their homes with their parents. We average about 80 children per visit, per week.
The Youth have been studying and learning to apply the book of Ephesians. On average, there are about 30 young people in the classes.
We are praying for the youth outreach activities for funds to hold conferences and camps in the rural areas. RS is thankful that we have the written word of God to share with these young people who are understanding the meaning of the word and can apply it to their daily lives in a practical way.
The Adult Bible Study in session at the Chorwe Pavillion, they are currently studying the book of Joshua
Training and Discipleship
Adult Literacy Ministry
Over the past three months, the Ruth’s Shawl team, along with the 22 teachers, has successfully reached several milestones:
The Team has successfully and personally visited and delivered supplies and encouragement to teachers for the Adult Literacy program. There will be about 250 students who are expected to graduate this October 2025 academic year. We are thankful (another miracle) to the Lord for providing Bibles for this graduating class. Please join RS in prayer for the necessary funds for preparation for 2026 school year.
Kwayera Adult Literacy Video
Juvenile Prison Ministry
(ages 10 - 19)
For the last eight weeks, RS has been studying the book of Ephesians at Bzyazi Prison where they are learning to understand and apply the scripture. During the last quarter, 15 young men accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. These young men are being discipled and prepared for their walk with Christ.
In August, the RS Team conducted a hygiene support initiative at Byazi Prison. Various essential items (which are not provided by the prison) were distributed to inmates to address poor hygienic conditions. These included: Toothpaste (also used as an antibiotic), Vaseline, Soap (used for laundry and bathing), other basic hygiene products, and sugar (used for tea and porridge).
Ruth’s Shawl is so grateful that the Lord has provided an open door to provide the gospel to these young men. Please pray for them.
Vehicle Needs
Ruth's Shawl is in need of good cars to use as we travel for ministry. Some of our activities are suffering because of this challenge. We are especially praying for our Hiace to be fixed or if funds allow, for the purchase of a new bus/van. A bus/van is especially important to us because it provides us with enough space to transport a good number of people to minister, but also equipment and materials for ministry. We praise God for two new tires.
Revelation Study
Deeper in… Further up.
Steve and I, Roman and Yuri started doing an online Bible study in Chapter 17 of John in May of 2023 along with the teaching team in Malawi. We have carefully studied and prayed together through each of the 26 verses to establish an anchor in His Word for His authority, His prayer and His promises in our lives and His calling as ambassadors of Christ.
This wonderful treasure that Jesus has for us , how he prays for us, His assurance to faithfully be with us and the Gospel to continue to be proclaimed with this unity/ fellowship we have in Him as we occupy until He comes !
As the result, by January 2025, the Book of Revelation became the next step for the online Bible study… so, the study began and continues to this day.
The Lord has been planting and cultivating His seeds throughout Central Malawi all these 15 years and now the Lord has opened an opportunity for RS to reach Malawians with Revelation in the villages, in home fellowships, in children's ministry, for the youth ministry, the prisoners; to take the study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ where He directs.
So, this is the point, this is impossible and we know it. But, we believe that this is the next step and RS needs to move in the direction that we have been given. We ask and even plead that you pray for the Will of God in this matter of the seriousness of this undertaking….
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things
Revelation 1:17–19
“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”
Revelation 3:8
is a promise of divine opportunity and spiritual accessibility, where God presents an "open door" that no one can close to those who are faithful and obedient, despite having "little strength" and holding onto God's word and name. This "open door" symbolizes a path to greater faith, deeper connection with God, and a life of spiritual growth and open opportunity that is made possible through God's power, not human might.
Amen and Amen !
Prayers and Petitions
·Home fellowship
·Building funds
·Praying for those who have accepted Christ, and to reach those who have not been exposed to the truth.
·Praying for funds for the work of the RS Ministry
We have three panels that are the surrounding Chigwirizano site of the ministry that has collapsed due to deterioration with weather and time.
Please pray that the remaining wall will be able to withstand the upcoming monsoon season and for funds to repair/replace the fallen panels. RS is blessed to have eight acres to build on as funds permit.
The RS team would like to thank you for your continued prayers as we minister each day to do God's work as He leads. Please share this newsletter with your friends and church family and encourage them to pray for the work in Malawi.
Should you have any questions or have an interest in ministering with Ruth's Shawl in Malawi please contact us at contactus@ruthsshawl.org. or visit our website at www.ruthsshawl.org
