Greetings to the saints in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I was privileged to do a written interview with Brother Brino Kumwenda. Our brother is serving the Lord in Malawi and supported by HeartCry Missionary Society. Please take a few minutes to become acquainted with our brother and his ministry and learn how to pray for him, his family, and the saints at Christlike church.
You can read Brother Brino and Sister Patience's testimony of conversion here: https://heartcrymissionary.com/testimony/brino-kumwenda/
V. C: "Tell us a little about your family."
Brother Bruno: "I am married to Patience. We have two children, Uchizi (11) and Uwemi (5). Both my wife and I come from polygamous families. My father married two wives. As often the case, in such marriages there is the man's favorite and the least loved. My mum was loved less. My father never lived with us as he used to live miles away with his other wife and my other siblings. He could just visit us once a year for no more than a month. My three siblings and I was raised by our mother. My father passed away in 1998 while I was a teenager in high school. So I was raised by a single parent, my mom."
V. C: "How did you start full-time ministry?"
Brother Bruno: "The burden to start a full time ministry came while in my second year at African Bible College. It was a burden developed after observing how the masses in the country were being taught false doctrines and being led by unqualified elders. But the actual planting of the church was to happen ten years later. I quit the presbyterian church because I had come to the conclusion that I couldn't effectively serve in the denomination as I was now holding different doctrinal convictions and philosophy of ministry. Firstly, the church was ordaining female "pastors" and allowing women to preach in the assembly of believers. Secondly, even though the church was reformed on paper, it is pentecostal/charismatic in practice. Thirdly, there was unbiblical membership. Fourth, I wanted a church that I could pastor for a long period God willing. I believe strong churches are correlated with longevity of leadership. However, in my former denomination, a pastor doesn't stay for more than ten years in one congregation. Ten years rarely happens. It is considered extreme. Usually, the pastors are transferred after an average period of five years. Fifth, I had embraced the congregational type of government which is baptistic. So I went ahead to plant Christlike Church which is a reformed baptist church."
V. C: "As you serve full time in Malawi, what ministry are you involved in and what does that look like?"
Brother Brino: "My core ministry is the pastoral ministry. I believe the Great Commission is most effective when God's churches are strong. Aside from that, I am involved in broadcasting. I serve through Radio ABC which is owned by African Bible Colleges. I also serve on the board of Logos Ministries which is a lay training institution with reformed convictions. All these ministries are key in Malawi and the northern region in particular. The country is faced with deep rooted biblical illiteracy and false gospels. The need for sound churches and media and theological training institutions is deep."
V. C: "What is the biggest challenge facing the Church in Malawi?"
Brother Brino: "As I have pointed out earlier, there is deep rooted biblical illiteracy. People are ignorant of the Word. As a result, they are not able to distinguish between the true Gospel/sound doctrine and the false gospels/doctrines. This is because there are unhealthy churches and very few sound theological institutions. Moreover, not many Christians have financial capacity to attain theological training. As a result, we have pastors that are not trained in faithfully dividing the word and shepherding God's people. This has been one of the major causes of the alarming spread of the prosperity gospel in the country. There is little or no discernment."
V. C: "What is the spiritual condition in Malawi?"
Brother Brino: "I would say this is related to the issue of the major challenges facing the Church. There is a proliferation of many beliefs masquerading as christian. Because there are few churches preaching the Word of God, people are responding to false gospels. For instance, it is said that Malawi is 80% Christian. Yet this is not reflected in people's lives. Among others, most of the public servants caught in big corruption scandals in the country are professing Christians including deacons and elders. I believe a great number of professing Christians are holding onto a different Jesus who does not demand holiness and accountability from his followers. This is because there is a low view of Scripture, of God, of preaching and of the Church."
V. C: "In what ways have you seen God working in Malawi?"
Brother Brino: "In spite of the challenges, I can see God raising an army of faithful laborers who are committed to preaching and practicing the Word of God. In recent times, there has been a growing number of sound churches that are being formed to preach the Word of God and shepherd God's people faithfully. I have also seen Him bring to the country theological institutions like Central African Preaching Academy (CAPA) that train pastors in pastoral ministry with an emphasis on expository preaching. CAPA is an initiative of the Grace Community Church which is pastored by John Macarthur. It is part of the TMAI. Interestingly, CAPA has had a major impact on pentecostal and charismatic pastors. I have interacted with such pastors and most of them have changed their views concerning the Word of God. Most of them hold on to most of the doctrines of grace and no longer believe in female leadership. They have also embraced expository preaching in the churches they pastor."
V. C: "How have you seen God working in your life, and in the lives of your believing family members?"
Brother Bruno: "The most visible one has been in my wife's life. My wife also came from a background of biblical illiteracy. She grew up in a dysfunctional home where the Word was not central to the family and she came from CCAP where preaching of the Word is not central to the life of the Church. When I met her she was saved but she was generally ignorant of the Word which led her to embracing some false doctrines and practices. For instance, she was once caught up in a ministry of a prosperity preacher. But since we got married she has changed a great deal. She is able to identify false teachers. Also, she is growing in her love for the Lord, the Church and our family. She is one of the most faithful members in the church. She herself is mentoring women."
V. C: "In the great commission, we are commanded to make disciples of all nations. How does this look practically in your area of ministry?"
Brother Brino: "Firstly, we are equipping the church in sound doctrine and living. We are training them to be faithful witnesses of the Gospel. We are grounding them to have a culture of evangelism rather than to just wait for the church to organize evangelistic programs. Secondly, we have evangelistic programs as a church targeting the residents of Mzuzu City. Our vision is to plant sound churches in the city, in the region, in the country and beyond. Personally, I preach to the community and youths especially at Mzuzu University which is the only public university in the city."
V. C: "What are the challenges and blessings you experience being in full-time ministry?"
Brother Brino: "The benefits include personal growth. During my pastoral ministry I have experienced growth in the Word of God as well as in maturity. As I labor to feed others the Lord has used the same to feed me even more. In general, I have grown in my love for the Lord. I have believed in the doctrines of grace with greater intensity every time I have read and meditated on the Scriptures.
I have also cultivated Christ-honoring partnerships. I have found close friends with like-minded men of God who are shepherding God's people faithfully. These men include brothers Mala Chindongo who pastors Antioch (Reformed) baptist church, Newton Chilingulo who leads Reformed Bible Church, Kondwani Nyanda who leads Grace Bible Church and Confex Makhalira who pastors Christ presbyterian Church.
In terms of challenges, I have faced opposition from false teachers. False doctrines spread fast because to the majority of people it is more contagious than the truth. It is painful to see someone you have been trying to mentor to join movements that are unhealthy and even cultic.
Another challenge is that most of the people in the country do not have a high view of the church. Most of them have grown in a culture where church is not central to their lives. This has been a challenge at Christlike Church, being a young church, even though we have been seeing a steady growth in some members in this area. They are increasingly seeing the importance of the church."
V. C: "What biblical principles or passages of Scripture has the Lord brought to mind at various times that have drawn you closer to Christ, challenged, or blessed you through your years of ministry?"
Brother Brino: "The most prominent is 1 Corinthians 10:31 which encourages me to glorify God in everything that I do. Giving glory to God is man's chief end. This guides me as I prepare the sermons and outreach, lead the family, counsel, resolve conflicts and all others. It helps me among others to put excellent work in what I do and to be guided by love of God, love for God and love for others."
V. C: "How do you prioritize your time in full-time ministry so that you maintain a balance in washing your wife with the water of the Word, bringing up your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, making disciples, and building up the saints?"
Brother Brino: "My primary priority is the home. I am privileged to work from home. I have a lot of time to interact with my family which gives me an opportunity to help them to grow in the fear and love of the Lord. We also have family worship which helps us to be grounded in the Word."
V. C: "How can people be praying for you?"
Brother Brino: "Pray that I continue to grow in my love for the Lord and other people. Pray that I continue to faithfully shepherd the family and the church that the Lord entrusted me to shepherd. Pray that I proclaim God's Word with clarity of speech, boldness and with love. Pray that the church, Christlike Church, should find like-minded partners to help in advancing the gospel in the northern region of Malawi. The Church needs both human and financial resources to advance the Gospel. We would love to have missionaries who can volunteer to minister through the church among others."
V. C: "Do you have any final thoughts you would like to share with your brothers and sisters in Christ?"
"I encourage the brothers and sisters to not be weary in doing good because in due season the Lord will reward us. The great news is that we already have the greatest reward: He himself. I encourage God's people to boldly stand for, practice and proclaim the truth in these perilous times."
Thank you to Brother Brino for taking time to do this interview. May you be encouraged by our brother's words, praise God for His work in Malawi, and be driven to your knees, interceding for the saints, bringing them before the Throne of Grace. We serve the Sovereign God, come before Him, praying that His Kingdom will continue to advance, for His glory!
In Christ,
Virginia
