A UMNS Report
By Elliott Wright*
May 26, 2009 

The hymn says, "Blessed be the tie that binds.” But ties in Christian mission also can expand.

Growing stronger is perhaps the best way to describe a mission partnership between a United Methodist congregation in Nashville, Tenn., and the denomination's Malawi Missionary Conference in central Africa.

The collaboration between the Belmont United Methodist Church and Malawi United Methodists is taking a new turn as a couple from Belmont prepares for a year of service in Malawi as Individual Volunteers in Mission. Jeff and Kara Oliver, both 35, will represent the commitment to Malawi that has become part of life at Belmont.

A vibrant and diverse congregation, Belmont’s membership represents 25 different nations of birth, including a group of 150 men, women and children who are refugees from Myanmar. The pastor is the Rev. Ken Edwards.

Mission seeds that have grown into the strong partnership were sown in 2004 when the first United Methodist Volunteers in Mission team from Belmont visited Malawi, according to the Rev. Herb Mather, a retired pastor in the Tennessee Annual Conference and a Belmont communicant who has played a leading role in the Belmont-Malawi story.

The volunteer teams visited again in 2006 and 2008, stopping in many villages and engaging in what Mather called a "ministry of encouragement." Belmont would subsequently make Malawi a mission priority.

Belmont remembered its mission partner in 2005 when the 1,650-member congregation, located in an older neighborhood of Nashville near Vanderbilt University, decided to raise $3 million for a new community center. The campaign included $50,000 to begin construction of a United Methodist conference center in Malawi.

Building village churches

"We had a special Christmas Miracle offering last December with a goal of raising $30,000 in hopes of building 10 village churches," Mather stated in an e-mail. "We received over $52,000. Fifteen village churches and one city church will be built with these funds. We are now working on linking Sunday school classes and individuals with the 'miracle' churches so there is communication between our people and the Malawian people.

“Part of the Christmas Miracle offering was an offering of prayers,” he added. “People in the congregation were invited to write prayers for Malawi and to bring them to the altar. Around 200 prayers were brought to the front of the church and placed in African baskets. These prayers were taken to Malawi ... [and] some were read at a pastor's training event and all were distributed to the 22 pastors in attendance to take back and share with their congregations.”

During the past five years, the people of Belmont have sent Bibles in the Chichewa and Tumbuka languages, paid for the drilling of 12 deep wells (boreholes) in Malawi, upgraded two parsonages, and sent 12 bicycles, a motorcycle, an automobile, recreational equipment, livestock (goats and pigs), and treadle irrigation pumps to the African country.

United Methodist Women at Belmont contributed funds for treadle and electric sewing machines and provided training in sewing and funds for 11 literacy classes for village women.

A young church

The United Methodist Church in Malawi is fairly young. Started some 21 years ago by indigenous leaders, it was for 20 years a district of the episcopal area based in nearby Zimbabwe. In April 2008, the United Methodist General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body, recognized Malawi as a missionary conference, with special ties to the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Today, there are about 100 congregations organized into 22 circuits.

Malawi is a land-locked country of 10.5 million mostly rural people east of Zambia, west of Mozambique, and south of Tanzania. Like Zimbabwe, it was colonized by English-speaking Europeans in the 19th century. It gained its independence from Great Britain in 1964 and become a democratic republic in 1994. Lilongwe is the capital city. The annual per capita income is $800. Some 80 percent of the population is Christian, 55 percent of those Protestant.

Bishop Eben Kanukayi Nhiwatiwa of the Zimbabwe Area has visited Belmont to cement the partnership and express appreciation for church's commitment.

The Olivers were in the delegation that took the prayers to Malawi and now they are devoting a full year to service there as Individual Volunteers in Mission, a program linked to the Board of Global Ministries.

They will work with the leadership of the Malawi church in a variety of ministries. Jeff Oliver is trained in information technology and Kara Oliver is a freelance writer who has written for The Upper Room, the international daily devotional guide at the Nashville-based United Methodist Board of Discipleship.

Visiting 22 circuits

On May 9, a benefit raised $14,000 for the purchase of a used vehicle that the Olivers will use during their ministry in Malawi and then leave for the church there. From a base in Blantyre, the couple plans to visit each of the 22 circuits, working under the direction of the Rev. Daniel Mhone, the mission superintendent. The departure date for Malawi is July 6.

"They are a terrific couple," Mather said, "and their commitment has caught the imagination of our large contingent of young adults, who form a major part of our congregation." The Olivers have sold their house in Nashville, put their careers on hold for mission, and spent a great deal of time preparing their children, Carter, 3, and Claire Marin, 9, for the adventure ahead.

Support for the couple during their Malawi year is not part of the Belmont budget, but Mather said that they anticipate considerable aid from individuals and small groups. "This practice has worked in the past. All of our funds for Malawi have come in response to stories of how God is working among the people of Malawi."

The Olivers' faith journey to Malawi can be followed at their blog, http://blog.oliverville.org.

Funds from Belmont to Malawi go through The Advance, the United Methodist designated giving mission channel. The Olivers can also be assisted through The Advance account for Individual Volunteers. Donations can be sent to Advance GCFA, PO Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068. Make checks payable to Advance GCFA and on the memo line write, "Advance #982465, for Jeff & Kara Oliver."

*Wright is the information officer of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.  

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Resources

Board of Global Ministries

Individual Volunteer Program

Belmont United Methodist Church