AP

On culture and open doors

Doorways have a dual purpose. Excluding revolving doors, they either open to beckon engagement or they slam shut, keeping us secure. Open doors can threaten because of what they might lead to, while closed doors can stifle adventure and encourage passivity.

I recall the apostle Paul on the theme “doors of opportunity” when he wrote to the Corinthian church (see 1 Cor 16:9). In the Bible, the “door of opportunity” is a metaphor describing a chance for effective service or ministry, often involving challenges and opposition. 

Not that any of our little group is anything like the apostle Paul, but like him, we are aware that a “wide door for effective ministry has opened” for us. We’re seeing doors of opportunity on every side, and we feel enabled and empowered to step through them. We feel it’s right to do so despite:

– “challenges” in the form of engaging in a completely different culture to ours, and

– “opposition” in the form of self-doubt and our own fears.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT AFRICA? There’s something about African culture that affects how you feel, and how you respond. There are people everywhere: bustling about at the edge of every main road, dawdling aimlessly down every dirt track. It seems that each and any one of them is happy to stop and talk. Homes aren’t locked castles like we’re used to. The milling swathes of humanity you see with every glance means a continuum of human contact, greeting, conversation and engagement. 

It’s freeing to think that I can safely open a conversation with nearly anyone I meet. It’s uplifting to hear the warm politeness of their response and see their smile. The footpaths of Blantyre may annoy me with inexplicable obstacles, absurdly dangerous holes, refuse and rubbish strewn everywhere, exhaust spewing vehicles and a cacophony of noise, But even this introvert from Melbourne feels free to look up, smile and engage at will. This would never happen at home where streets are for cars, not people.

But another factor is that there is such a profound Christian backdrop to the nation of Malawi. This gives us freedom to open and enter through doors. David Livingstone was first to bring the enlightenment of the Christian gospel to this part of the world. Upon trekking to this site in the 1860s, Livingstone made an agreement with Chief Kapeni to reserve parts of his land at the foot of Mt Ndirande for a Christian Mission. 

The UK Universities Mission sent its first party to the Lake, but it ended in tragedy, with a devastating loss of life.  The Church of Scotland sent their first missionaries, heeding Livingstone’s advice, to establish a Christian Mission on this 1000m plateau and promptly named it after Livingstone’s birth town in Scotland: Blantyre. Africans fled to the mission to escape the murderous intent of the feared Arab slave traders. 

From its establishment in 1876, Blantyre Christian Mission became a haven – like one of the cities of refuge mentioned in the Old Testament. Rev David Clement Scott built his massive cathedral (St Michael’s and All Angels) with volunteer labour and local brick. He erected it as a theological symbol: it stands in the middle of the slave traders’ route, a symbol of freedom, dignity and Christian faith. Malawi has never forgotten this. Livingstone is honoured and so is anyone who comes in his name, including this little band of 16 from PCV. This sets you free to engage, in effect it is a door wide open for ministry. What a privilege! 

Open doors at Orbus

Tom, Duan and Bec were invited to teach. At the invitation of Tom the headmaster, Duan and Bec swiftly took up positions alongside the regular staff as Christian Education teachers. Classroom after classroom opened to them, and despite no formal education training, they quickly adapted and brought Christ to the students in such an engaging way that they have been invited back next week.

Wednesday was sports afternoon. Steve and his team needed no second invitation. Football drills (for Aussies back home read: “soccer”), senior boys displaying amazing yet natural foot skills, practice games. Of course, the highlight was the presentation of brand-new footballs to the school.

While Steve, and others coached the boys in football, Siew Teng and her team coached the girls in netball. No rings to aim at each end – the netball “ring” being a teacher’s hands.

Diane and Jean visited the headmaster’s wife, and the policeman’s wife, and, sitting on the steps of their accommodation block, in the gentle sun, held a Bible study together. Imagine that at home! As a personal aside, I’m imagining this scene on the steps of the Principal’s home on the Hill at Scotch College, with Steve and his team practising football drills on Main Oval. 

Also, we noticed the importance of police presence on the property. Orbus intentionally offers an accommodation unit to the Malawian Police as a security measure.

Bruce, Ben and David were invited to investigate the current site with a view to better water preservation, reticulation and overall sustainability. 

Bruce and colleagues gave their experienced minds to this challenge. Every building at Orbus, and there must be a dozen or more, has a roof where rain water falls off into drains rather than tanks. Surely we can do something? It just needs a little funding and then two workers – one a plumber – to give a month of their time to return and supervise a proper water reticulation scheme. The whole site has a gentle gradient downwards to the vegetable and fruit ‘farm’ and a small brook. It begs for a storage tank from each roof and then a drainage system to bring the water through the property. Currently, the water bill is one of their highest recurrent costs.

WHO WILL COME?

It was a great day of open doors of opportunity for effective service and ministry. I reflected on a valuable lesson regarding Christian ministry”: it’s good to leave space in our busy western lives to “stay” awhile, to follow through on God’s leads and to engage with people.

John P Wilson

Blantyre, MALAWI