Welcoming new church in Malawi
The UK-based Powerhouse Community Outreach International Ministries is today officially planting a branch in Malawi. Our reporter WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR found out more about the ministry from its founder and leader Dr Clement Nkhoma.
Can you share with me your story before we tackle the church’s history.
I was born on the 2nd of December in 1973 at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre. I am the son of Bishop Bryson and Prophetess Lonia Nkhoma. They are both serving at the Living Waters Church (LWC). I did my primary education at Ndirande, St Pius and Dharap primary schools in Blantyre where I used to get position one in class from Standard One to Eight. I then proceeded to Chichiri Secondary School where I maintained my number one record until I got selected to Chancellor College. I was, however, weeded at Chanco in the 3rd year because of too much beer drinking and smoking ‘weed’ [marijuana].
Did this mark the end of your path in education?
No! Instead, the ‘weeding’ acted as a wake-up call for me and I thank my parents for allowing me to return to school. Of course, this time I did not go to Chanco. Instead, I went to Malawi College of Accountancy (MCA) where I finished Public Accounts Examinations Council (PAEC) in one and a half years the lessons that normally students take three years to complete. From there, I went to Botswana where I worked as an expatriate audit risk manager for two years.
How did you find yourself in the United Kingdom (UK)?
After working in Botswana, I mobilised enough money to take me to the United Kingdom. Thus, in 2001, I flew to UK to pursue my Master’s degree in business consulting. I finished the course in two years. I proceeded to do a PhD in financial engineering because my ambition was to become governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM).
So what happened to your ambition?
Well, after working in the UK for three years, I got converted. Immediately, I resigned to serve the Lord..
Is there anything that the Bible says Christians should become apart from being mere believers?
The Bible wants Christians to be promoted and become influential leaders in the society. And that’s the vision of Powerhouse Ministries: to promote Christians to the level where God wants them to be. It’s for this reason that as much as I was getting white-collar jobs in the UK, my heart was not being satisfied. I felt I was wasting time working instead of preaching the word of God. I am happy to have returned home to plant a church, which will change the lives of the people according to the will of God.
In your assessment, what is missing in local believers?
It’s very encouraging to see that Malawi is blessed with born-again Christians. But what I have noted is that most of them are used to mere preaching, which is part of the gospel, anyway. However, they also need revelation knowledge and teaching to get themselves established and grounded in the word of God. It’s very hard to believe what you don’t really understand. What you need to know is that preachers tell believers what will happen while teachers explain how that thing will happen. The Powerhouse Ministries has been mandated to impart revelation knowledge that will bring illumination among believers, thereby establishing and grounding them in the word.
What has been the launch process like? Did you start from somewhere?
The process of this launch started with the building of home cells. Over the past three months, we have established 10 home cells with a membership of about 30 each. We have been very privileged that one of our members has given us land where we could be congregating at Chisangalalo along the Manje Road in the area of Group Village Head Chiwembe in Blantyre.
