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News from The Reverend Glenn Inglis

Glenn InglisGlenn Inglis

Now into our second year of the current postings and fully engaged in the responsibilities placed before us, our hosts, Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, have made us feel very much welcome and we appreciate the confidence they place in us. We gratefully acknowledge the strong support we are receiving from International Ministries and PWS&D, as well as the prayers and encouragement from many congregations and individuals in Canada.

I am currently serving as the Executive Director of the Blantyre Synod Development Commission which initiates and coordinates development activities throughout Blantyre Synod in Southern Malawi. According to the latest census, Blantyre Synod has 1.7 million communicant members. When one factors in children and adherents, it is obvious that this is a very large denomination with enormous responsibilities in witness to Christ’s love. Given the overall poverty of the nation and the limited resources available, the Development Commission is able to meet only a small portion of the needs before us. However, we are faithfully involved in the following work:

  • Livelihood programs which include food security, HIV interventions, leadership development, water and sanitation, gender and rights education.
  • Orphans and Vulnerable Children programs (OVCs) which provide food, education, recreation and health surveillance for 1600 pre-school children in the Blantyre area, about 70% of whom are AIDS orphans. The programs also provide education and vocational training bursaries, HIV/AIDS clubs, health surveillance and community gardens to support older orphans. The OVC Centres are run by local committees who are trained and supported by BSDC staff.
  • The Church and Society program which is currently involved in civic and voter education leading up to the May 2009 national elections, the right to food; human rights and alternative dispute resolution. The work is conducted through committees formed in each of the Synod’s 18 presbyteries, following a ‘trainer of trainers’ approach.
  • Chigodi Women’s Centre, which is training leaders in local presbyteries and congregations in gender, advocacy and women’s development issues, with a focus on HIV and AIDS and vocational training

A significant part of my work has been to help BSDC recover from the turmoil surrounding the transition from the former Projects Office to the Development Commission which occurred through 2006-07. To date, we have recovered most of our former support but, in several cases, not to the level previously enjoyed. It is a lesson that years of faithful building can collapse in a day if care is not taken at all levels of an organization’s life. A significant boost to our finances occurred when International Ministries forwarded a grant of $45,000 to offset debt and allow us to redirect resources to program development and implementation. We have undertaken a lot of organizational development activities in 2008 including a strategic planning exercise as well as providing training for personnel within specific programs. On a positive note, BSDC is a more hopeful place to work than 18 months ago, and we are slowly winning donor confidence.

How can a relatively small organization even begin to meet the huge social, economic and political issues of a wide geographical area with a dense population base, half of whom live on less than $US 1 per day?

We are already feeling the effects of the global financial downturn with less money available for our work. The overarching issue remains: how can a relatively small organization even begin to meet the huge social, economic and political issues of a wide geographical area with a dense population base, half of whom live on less than $US 1 per day? This is an urgent situation which requires our full commitment but also the prayerful and generous support of friends and partners in Canada and elsewhere.

Finally, in addition to our regular programs, we will be putting more resources into our HIV and AIDS work with special emphasis on adolescent girls and young mothers who lack education and vocational skills. This is a highly vulnerable group for which we will strive to develop relevant interventions.

This position demands more skills than I have to offer. Still, I count it a blessing to be given this opportunity to work on behalf of the poor and vulnerable in Southern Malawi. Your support through International Ministries and PWS&D gives us the practical support we need to carry out Christ’s ministry in this place.