A Letter from the Gibb's Family
Greetings from the "Warm
Heart of Africa"!
In the next few paragraphs, let's
take a look into the day to day operations and responsibilities that accompany
being a missionary to Malawi.
Over the last four and half
months, we have evolved from assisting
a career missionary to becoming a
career missionary. Every day presents new and exciting challenges in
the Kingdom of God.
Our responsibilities start with
the overseeing of the national Bible school. As principal of Apostolic
Bible College, I am managing all budgets (expenses that come in and are paid out)
and handling the hiring and firing of all campus workers. I am also creating
and teaching course curriculums as well as compiling final grades for certificate
level classes. God is blessing! By the first week of August we will be
graduating 39 pastors that have come for ministerial training. In
turn, these pastors and evangelists will go back to their home cities and
implement their expanded knowledge to saving the lost.
We are also co-pastoring Apostolic
Life Center in Blantyre. This is
the headquarters church for the nation. Our goal is to see this model
church exceed all expectations in church growth and spiritual maturity. By
applying the many lessons we’ve learned through Pastor Keller and New Life, we
have witnessed the church attendance doubling
in 4 months!...We give the Lord praise!!!
We are also in the middle of a
building project on the Bible school campus. We are in the first of three
stages of enlarging an existing tabernacle building that currently seats 400 to
a building that, in its final stage, will accommodate 3000. We are responsible
for the financial as well as the physical aspects of this project.
As a member of the Malawi
Executive Board, our responsibilities entail assisting and advising the superintendent
in areas of progress and any areas relating to the general progress and growth
of the UPC of Malawi.
Currently we oversee the growth
and spiritual well being of 400 established churches stretching across the nation.
Two hundred of these churches are within 150 miles of the Bible school campus
where we live. The UPC of Malawi has nearly 25,000 constituents and
regularly sees over 3000 souls a year receiving the Holy Ghost. We are
traveling out at least once a month visiting one of the 32 UPC churches located
in the immediate Blantyre area. Last year 18 new churches came into
existence as well as 7 new preaching points, and 297 newly licensed ministers
were added.
We were privileged to host AYC (Apostolic
Youth Corps) in June. During their stay, 221 received the Holy Ghost and
41 were baptized!
We are currently working
on the logistics for our General Conference in August and the
A-team's visit in September. The theme this year for the A-Team's visit
will be, "Africa A-Team Holy Ghost Explosion". We are believing
for 1000 souls to be filled with the Holy Ghost during these special services.
Thank you, New Life Christian
Center, for being the fuel for revival in the nation of Malawi.
Yours for Souls,
Chris, Penny, Caleb, and Jacie
