Ndirande church embraces call boys
Word of God International Assembly (WGIA), a faith-based organisation that operates from Ndirande, Blantyre on Sunday embraced minibus call boys through a luncheon in what it dubbed ‘Dressing Sunday Service’. JAMES CHIMPWEYA finds out more about this gesture from WGIA executive director Pastor JAMES GENESIS
What is Dressing Sunday Service all about?
This is a soul winning evangelism strategy. We brought together orphans, widows, people with disabilities, street children, people living with HIV and Aids and the elderly, among other less-privileged groups. It is a Dressed Sunday Service because people were dressed, fed and received the word of God.
What happened when you met or what was the programme like?
We started with praise and worship choruses and intercession, then the normal church service with altar call where the magnitude came to the Lord. We fed and dressed them after they received the word of God of hope.
Why did you decide to use this strategy?
In the kingdom of God there are many programmes of reaching out to the unreached. And one of the ways of reaching such groups is through bringing them closer to the throne of God through feeding and dressing them. This is one of the special ways because people are desperate for food and clothes. Everybody needs to look smart by dressing well and eating three meals a day.
What do you think was the significance of this event?
In Matthews 25: 35-40 Jesus was telling His disciples that He was hungry, sick, a prisoner, a foreigner and nobody visited Him or some came and do likewise to Him. Those who did a good job to Him will be called to His mansion, but those who were hard-hearted will be thrown into the lake of fire where there will be gnashing of teeth.
How many did you plan to reach out to?
We registered 50, but the number exceeded. This shows how desperate people are in search of the word of God. We have preached in the church and time has come to go out of the church to reach out to more people as we have done.
How much have you spent on this event?
A lot more has been spent. It is difficult to come out with an exact figure because most of the things were donations from well-wishers. But our budget was K100 000. We have seen the faithfulness of God. We just want to thank our partners and church members for making this event possible.
After this event, what will happen to those that surrendered themselves to Christ?
Those that surrendered their lives to Christ, we will be making frequent follow-ups to ensure that we do not lose them. We have their full contacts—names and even their houses.
Who do you work in your ministry?
We work with various stakeholders, including partners who support some of our programmes. These partners are normally local ones. Most of them are the those we have been ministering to.
Your last word?
Living Word of God International Assembly aims at reaching out to the unreached with the gospel of love. Currently, we have 50 elderly people whom we support financially for their small businesses. Our mission is to put a smile on their faces and that is our passion. We believe in miraculous God who always surprises us when we have events such as this one. We are behind the bridge along Nasolo River where the January floods swept away several houses, including our church. n
