{"id":1542,"date":"2020-09-24T20:53:22","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T20:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/weekly-offerings\/?p=1542"},"modified":"2020-09-24T20:53:22","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T20:53:22","slug":"peace-global-witness-malawi-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/weekly-offerings\/2020\/09\/24\/peace-global-witness-malawi-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Peace & Global Witness: Malawi Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Radical and fearless discipleship<\/h4>\n

Let\u2019s stop for a moment to think about that which perhaps we cannot see. Let\u2019s look beyond the walls of our church, beyond the boundaries of our community \u2014 even beyond the borders of our nation. There is much to see, much to talk about and think about \u2026 but for a moment, let\u2019s talk about this: right now nearly 40 million people are living with HIV\/AIDS around the globe. The Sub-Saharan countries of Africa are disproportionately impacted, with nearly 26 million of those cases in this region alone.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cHIV\/AIDS is still a worldwide issue,\u201d says Phyllis Wezeman, a member of First Presbyterian Church of South Bend, Indiana. She leads Malawi Matters\u2014a nonprofit that has not shied away from talking about the issue but is tackling it head on. The organization develops and facilitates HIV and AIDS education with the people of Malawi. <\/span><\/p>\n

Malawi Matters is 100 percent volunteer driven. Donations are used for developing and supporting important training programs, and for much-needed supplies. Wezeman\u2019s church is part of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, which has answered the call to become a Matthew 25 mid council. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a Matthew 25 mid council, the presbytery has committed to \u201cradical and fearless discipleship\u201d to embrace one or more of three focuses: building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism and eradicating systemic poverty. The presbytery uses its portion of the Peace & Global Witness Offering in support of Malawi Matters. These gifts support field work in more than 200 congregations and villages and more than 1,500 schools.\u00a0Volunteers also travel to Malawi to serve as facilitators on teaching teams. <\/span><\/p>\n

Malawi Matters is just one beautiful example of how Presbyterians who support the Peace & Global Witness Offering are building God\u2019s household, a household of peace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let us pray<\/span><\/h4>\n

God of peace, bring your promise to all people. May those who suffer from illness receive your healing touch, and your peace, which passes all understanding. Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Join us<\/h4>\n

For more information and resources related to the Peace & Global Witness Offering, visit the Special Offerings website.<\/a>
\n<\/u> This post is based on a regional Minute for Mission which can be found on our\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0as a\u00a0script<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Please give generously to the Offering:<\/p>\n