‘We bring Christians together’
People in Blantyre will today have the opportunity to attend the the Sunrise Sunday Service at Chichiri Primary School. James Chimpweya talked to secretary of this year’s Keswick Convention, which is organising the event, Pastor Edward Mikwamba, to understand the idea of Keswick Convention.
What is Keswick Convention, how and when did it start?
Keswick is the gathering and sharing of the word of God by Christians of different denominations. The first Keswick Convention was organised in 1875 by the vicar of St John’s Church in the little town of Keswick in the North West England. Canon Harford chose to hold the first event in a tent on his lawn and over 300 people attended!! Within a few years, Christians from all over the world were travelling to Keswick [pronounced kessik] to hear the best Bible teachers available.
How about the Blantyre Keswick Convention?
In Blantyre, Keswick was formed in 1962 by Reverend Robert Barr; G. Goba [Africa Evangelical Church]; George Dunn [Railways]; J. Simon and Reverend Chitonya [Zambezi Evangelical Church]; Jim Lewis [Nyasa Mission]; Willie Musopole and Kenneth Luwani [Church of Central Africa Presbyterian]; Reverend Jack Selfridge [New Life for All –NLA]; Reverend Gideon Bomba [Assemblies of God] and W. Saukila [Evangelical Church of Malawi], just to mention a few. These men carried forward the main objective of Keswick Convention—to meet the needs of those who wanted greater depth in their spiritual lives by bringing together Christians from different denominations to a time of exposition of the word, through preaching in order that they experience the visitation of God and a time of refreshing.
Who are some of the notable evangelists in Malawi who have minister at Keswick Conventions?
The evangelists include Shadreck Wame, Steven Lungu and Dr Lazarus Chakwera in Malawi and Reverend Joe Kapolyo, the lead pastor of Edmonton Baptist Church and former Principal of All Nations Bible College, London. This year’s function is being organised by a committee comprised of members from different denominations under the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM). The membership of EAM comprises Evangelical, Pentecostal, Presbyterian and Charismatic churches as well as para-church organisations.
What activities are carried out during the Keswick Convention?
During the convention week, we will have three discussion forums and main worship services daily. The forums will focus on leadership, women and the youths.
