Last week, the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) held inter-denominational prayers at Cobbe Barracks in Zomba. Our correspondent NELSON NDHLOVU finds out more about the prayers from Reverend Canon Lt Colenel Paul Meke Banda and why it is important for soldiers to worship God.
What is this all about?
Today is a great day in the history of the MDF because people should remove the bad mentality that soldiers do not spend time to worship God. Soldiers are human beings and, as such, they also do what other people do like spending time in the house of the Lord.
What is the significance of the gathering?
First, we wanted to thank the Almighty God for what He did to us last year. We also prayed for more blessings this year. Since we started such gatherings, we have seen a lot of soldiers changing for good.
Why did you choose ‘let’s move together guided by God’ as the theme for the prayers?
You know, a lot of people take soldiers as bad people, but they do not know that soldiers spend time with their families and at church praying for good life. As a matter of fact, we want all soldiers to put God first in this new year. Last year, we saw God guiding us, especially during the transition period. It is because of this that we want to thank Him and ask for more blessings.
What is your message to the MDF family?
I want to ask the MDF family to obey God all the time. At the same time, we should obey our elders and leaders. A soldier without God is nothing. They should also be doers of God’s word.
What is your last word?
I would like to thank God for what He is doing to us at MDF. Those people with a wrong mentality about soldiers should know that we have churches and mosques in all the barracks and that soldiers are human beings just like everybody else. My work is to deal with soldiers spiritually and it is working.
