Reaching the Unreached in Mulanje and Thyolo
by Patrick & Mervis Readson - MALAWI, AFRICA
A People Full of Joy
It is a wonderful blessing to see devoted followers of Jesus who are not ashamed to share their faith freely and openly. Their joy is contagious. In Selenje, women are gathering in homes to pray before going to the fields. In Mulenga, men meet under trees after work to experience God in His Word together.
You can see it on their faces. There is hope, there is peace, and there is purpose. They are being praised not only for their faith, but for the many practical ways they are impacting others — visiting the sick, encouraging widows, and welcoming neighbors to hear the Word. The Gospel is moving from house to house.
Raising the Next Generation
Not only are adults faithfully engaged in discipleship training, but the youth are involved as well.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it.”
The youth of Mulenga (a village in the Thyolo District) are especially hungry. They ask questions, they take notes, and they are eager to apply what they learn. In Selenje (a village in the Mulanje District), young men who had been idle are now leading small group discussions.
Mervis and I are passionate about this ministry because these young people are future leaders of the church. As they are rooted in Christ now, we’re confident they will grow in their commitment and faithfulness — discipling others just as they have been discipled.
Here’s how it looked in Selenje and Mulenga this month:
1. Identify: Together with village heads and church leaders, we mapped homes and identified new believers and families we had not visited previously.
2. Engage: We met in homes, beneath mango trees, and in small gatherings. The atmosphere was warm and open.
3. Equip: We used the small discipleship booklets that Mervis and I created. Their simplicity makes them easy to use in variety of ways: one-on-one, family, youth group.
4. Follow Up: Every week our team returned to review lessons, pray together, and celebrate small victories.
5. Multiply: The greatest joy was seeing those who finished the booklet turn around and start teaching someone else.
The Greatest Need: God’s Word
While discipleship booklets are a great tool, they are not a replacement for the Bible. And the hunger we are seeing is real. In Selenje and Mulenga, those who complete the training process are saying, We want to read the Bible for ourselves. They want to study in the morning before work and they want to read to their children before bedtime at night.
Psalm 119:105 reminds us: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Right now, many new disciples are walking that path without a lamp.
The need is urgent. We are praying and believing God for provision so that the men, women, and youth who have made a decision for Christ in Mulanje and Thyolo can hold God’s Word in their hands.
Looking Ahead…
The work is not finished. There are still villages around Selenje and Mulenga waiting to hear. There are still believers asking for Bibles, so we move forward trusting God for His provision because He’s building the church, not us.
Please join us in prayer:
1. Provision of Bibles for new disciples in Mulanje and Thyolo
2. Strength and wisdom for our local Disciplers as they train others
3. More open doors in unreached areas of Malawi and Mozambique
We sincerely appreciate Disciplers International for their faithful support. Because of DI, we are reaching many more souls in Malawi and also across the border in Mozambique. Your prayers, resources, and partnership are bearing fruit that will last for eternity. To God be all the glory for all He is doing. We are grateful to walk this journey with you!
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