Be a source of hope, SDA evangelists told

Dowa, December 11, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has challenged Literature Evangelists in the Southern Indian Ocean Division (SID) of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church to be a source of hope amongst people facing various challenges across the region.

He made the call Wednesday during the opening of the Fourth SID Literature Evangelist Congress held at Linde Hotel at Mponela in Dowa.

He said as evangelists spread the word of God, they must also be an inspiration for people facing various social economic problems within the areas they serve.

"As evangelists, you have been called on a mission to spread the good news, to heal the broken hearted and bring hope to those in despair, to those that are uncertain about tomorrow, those about to give up hope and are thinking about taking their own lives.

"Therefore this call is not limited to the pulpits of the church, it is a call to serve humanity, and to be the hand and feet of God in a world that desperately needs his love and redemption," he said.

Usi also reminded the evangelists of what he said was their critical role in shaping the moral fabric of the society.

He said they must also heed their role of transforming lives, bringing people together, and fostering social economic development amongst communities.

"As we try to build a more just and equitable society, your contribution is invaluable," he said.

He acknowledged that the evangelists face a lot of challenges in course of their work like skepticism and hostilities. But he urged them to remain strong to achieve their mission of redeeming mankind from evil and sin.

Usi then said he respected the calls for members of SDA fraternity to be considered for exemptions in undergoing interviews or exams during Saturdays.

Speaking earlier during the event, Pastor Tony Nyirenda, President of Malawi Union Conference bemoaned that many SDA faithful, whether working, seeking employment or students, both in the public and private spheres, face challenges in observing one of the fundamental pillars of the SDA, which is observing the Sabbath.

He said many are forced to attend interviews or exams on Saturdays, a thing which he said puts them at an inconvenience.

"We want to make this humble request that may you take this up, so that our students should be able to attend classes or write exams on any other days expect Sabbath.

"Similarly this should be accorded to the SDA members in attending interviews on Saturdays. I have made this request because Malawi is God fearing country which upholds freedom of worship," he said.

He however commended the Vice President for attending the event while describing him as a right standing member of the SDA.

Dr. Pastor Harrington Akombwa, President of Southern Indian Ocean Division said they decided to hold the conference in Malawi because the country has a large number of baptized SDA members hovering around 700, 000.

The conference has attracted leaderships from 23 countries from the SID.

SID is a sub-entity of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, which coordinates the Church’s activities in the southern portion of Africa, which include the Angola, Ascension Island, Botswana, Comoro Islands, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Reunion, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe; as well as St. Helena and Tristan da Cunha, territories of the United Kingdom, and the Kerguelen Islands, territory of France and is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa.