Letter from Pastor Steve and Nora Braselton

Dear and Precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Welcome and be blessed with this news of the continuing faithfulness of our loving Heavenly Father and His gracious answers to all our prayers. 

As you read this update, on email or actual paper, the goal is to contact each of you as efficiently as possible to keep you informed for prayer updates and praises. RS was raised up by God from a Bible foundation based on obeying His Word and dependency on Him through prayer.

We pray that you are filled with joy and thanksgiving to know that the teaching of His Word, Biblical discipleship and training for all ages and stages of life are spread over Central Malawi in various local and remote venues.

This Quarterly is a first step to open a way to deepen our koinonia (Greek for fellowship) in missionary relationship, by growing, learning and serving together, not just passing on lists of information or routine, repetitive words that don’t originate from the heart of God. But, that we will be in a spirit of unity and bond of peace for the sake of Honoring His Name and pleasing Him together for Malawi.

Pastor Steve and Nora

A Great Start to 2024

From Funa, Executive Administrator

The year started on a good note. From a refreshing Christmas break, we were excited to return to open doors for advancing the gospel and pursuing the spiritual growth and maturity of men, women, youth and children in Malawi. Our outreaches to Chorwe, Bzyanzi Juvenile Prison and Chigwirizano were not yet ready to start as we waited for the end of the rainy season and harvest. This waiting time presented us with a great opportunity to pray and set goals and objectives for the year by faith, recruit a new housekeeper, work on budgets, and commence the adult literacy classes and the education sponsorship program.

Children and Youth Ministry

We continue our ministry to the youth of Malawi, which make up 44% of the population. We regularly serve approximately 25 youth in Chorwe, 35 youth in Chigwirizano and 70 in Bzyanzi prison, in addition to groups in Chorwe and Chigwirizano. Our goals include promoting spiritual growth through weekly Bible studies and monthly mentorship; teaching youth to evangelize through sports; developing leadership skills through youth conferences; and demonstrating God’s love and care by bringing a material gifts to the boys in Bzyanzi juvenile prison.

So far in 2024, the youth programs have run for 8 weeks in Bzyanzi and Chigwirizano and two Evangelism Explosion trainings have been conducted in Chorwe and Chigwirizano. The 71 juvenile inmates have been taken through the inductive Bible study and training and hygiene gifts have been provided to them as well as a gift of 92 washboards.

Training and Discipleship

Our primary focus continues to be on our adult literacy programs, training and Bible studies, and our Jesus Film outreach. In 2024, RS plans to equip adult literacy learners with new inductive Bible study skills and tools; to increase the instructional effectiveness of the teachers; to increase and retain male participation in the adult literacy program; to reduce the dropout rate; to provide capacity building training; to create a systematic registration process for participants at Chorwe Bible Study; to increase and retain participation for Chorwe Bible Study; and to increase the visibility and presence of the program in the villages we serve. 

The newest iteration of the Chorwe weekly Bible study has run for three weeks now, covering the book of John. In addition, the team has been busy with two adult literacy class supervision trips and the recruitment and training of 8 new adult literacy teachers. 

Other Programs, Media, and Logistics

The team has been busy managing the logistics of ministry in Malawi. They are working hard to improve Ruth’s Shawl’s visibility in Malawi by keeping media platforms updated and improving storage systems for digital materials (e.g. photos, videos, translated training materials).

Keeping the different vehicles roadworthy is a constant challenge given the rough road conditions in the villages, so the team must keep up with regular (and irregular) maintenance. They also continue to maintain the RS land, which included renovating and installing a new gate on the land in Chigwirizano after damage from a storm. RS hopes to eventually build its administration offices on the land and has begun the process of looking for an architect.

Finally, RS began a new education sponsorship program this past year! So far, we have sponsored four precious students for two terms in their second year of Secondary School (which is not free in Malawi). William has spent time with them for Bible study and encouragement on two different trips as they work with us in ministry. Please pray for these students and their spiritual and academic growth.

Outreach

We continue to show the Jesus Film whenever possible as we are invited to different villages in addition to the follow-up Walking with Jesus Series. Thousands of people have learned about Jesus and heard the Gospel through these village screenings and we look forward to continuing this valuable ministry.

Prayers and Petitions

1 John 5:14 - 15

Now this the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

• To complete building a shelter on the land outside the capital (Chigwirizano) which currently has no building on it. RS would like to build a facility to house the ministry.
• Resources to go into a second prison, including Bibles and funds for health and hygiene materials
• Eight new teachers going through training - prayer for their training and their classes that will begin soon
• Resources to go into more villages, including staff and travel expenses
• Prayer for all staff, teachers, and Pastors as they daily minister in Malawi
• For the Malawian families as a whole, the struggles they face each day, and to draw closer to Jesus.
• Graduating students as they move forward with all that they have learned, continuing to study and share the Word.

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.

Trouble viewing the images? Click here to view as a Webpage