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Camp Bethel lights up Chigwaja

 

J-Ministries Malawi—with funding from The Kerusso Trust in the United Kingdom—last Saturday dedicated a K50 million Chimwemwe House at Camp Bethel which is also known as The Kerusso Resource Centre at Chigwaja in Blantyre rural. JAMES CHIMPWEYA covered the dedication of the resource Centre and had a chat with J-Ministries director Pastor CONNEX IJALASI.

Chimwemwe House
Chimwemwe House

What is J-Life Ministries all about?

J-Life Ministries is a non-denominational ministry which was established in 2002. Its vision is to see people won to Christ, disciples equipped and empowered for disciple-making and service. We work with churches, organisations, schools, communities, etc.

It is our model for life and ministry. ‘Disciple-making’ is our mission, ‘Leading servants is our motto’, ‘Love’ is our motive whereas balanced Bible teaching and ministry training are our main task. The Holy Spirit is our means, fruit is our measure, the gospel is our message and the church is our movement.

 

What are some of your programmes?

We have youth discipleship that have four modules, which are strategy, foundation, vision and multiplication workshops. In relief and development, we have education, health and nutrition, children community Bible Club, relief, vocational training and our general programme approach is as follows; cast wide where we target the masses as Jesus did, narrow down, we select few people that we can journey with.

 

Is J-Life Ministries a church?

Our partners in these programmes are churches, ministries and communities. I want to be put it on record that J-Life Ministries is not and will never become a church as many may be tempted to think. We believe in working with churches and not against them and we believe there are enough churches out there.  What the church needs are partners who are committed to supporting its vision. J-Life is committed to supporting what the church is doing. So far, so many youths, pastors, other church leaders and people from different communities have benefited from J-Life vision.

 

Tell us more about Camp Bethel

The development of this site dates back to 2013. We were given this site by Senior Chief Kuntaja and Group Village head Nzigala. Nobody dreamt this place would become what it is today. Senior Chief Kuntaja said when giving us this land: ‘My Children, what I want in my area is development, so I will give you this land’. And at that time we had nothing in our pockets.

We only had a vision to see this place developed as it is said vision brings transformation. We call this place Bethel because this is a place of refuge and in this place people from all walks of life, young and old will meet with God, be transformed and sent out to all nations under the sun to serve God in so many ways.

In Genesis 28:10-22, after his dream, Jacob exclaims: ’How awesome is this place! This is none other than a house of the Lord, and this is the gate of heaven. Bethel was a place of refuge for Jacob. Like Jacob, during our ground-breaking ceremony three years ago, we erected a pillar at the entrance to this place not knowing that one day we would all be standing to witness a miracle that has happened in these these three years.

 

Who funded this projects?

Construction of this Chimwemwe house has been a miracle because we estimated to take us five years, but for your information, this house has been a gift from The Kerusso Trust, our UK partner and it has taken us just a year to construct. It has cost us K50 million.

This house is open to all, and in our library we have over 3 000 theological books and another big consignment of books will be dispatched into the country by the Langham Partnership UK. Our resource centre will be one of the best centres for efficient and effective ministry.

It will also cater for other development needs. This will be a hub for development in Blantyre City West; Yes, people living in darkness of sin, diseases, malnutrition, poverty, ignorance, underdevelopment and many more will see the light of life and development. People of Chigwaja, Maliya, Chilingani, Khombwe, Chileka and beyond will become a model of progress.

 

What is the impact of Camp Bethel?

Construction of this Camp Bethel has helped many people of this area in that over 50 got piece-work (ganyu), which enabled them to earn income for their daily needs, including food. The facility will also attract some churches and organisations to come and use it. n

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