We are Patrick and Mervis Readson, a family dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Malawi and Mozambique. With over 50 churches under our care, we have been blessed to see the transformative power of God's love in the lives of many. However, we are facing significant financial challenges that threaten our meeting together.
*The State of Malawi: A Nation in Need*
Malawi, our beloved country, is facing unprecedented economic hardships. The cost of living has skyrocketed, with essential items becoming unaffordable for many. Here are some examples:- A packet of sugar has increased from $0.35 (K600) to $2.00 (K3,500)
- 5 liters of cooking oil have increased from $8.00 (K14,000) to $31.71 (K55,000)
- Water prices have hiked twice, with a 50% increase
- Electricity prices have also increased significantly
- Bread has increased from $1.56 (K2,700) to $2.25 (K3,900)
- Rice (1 kg) has increased from $1.73 (K3,000) to $4.61 (K8,000)
As Psalm 34:17-18 reminds us, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
*Our Ministry: A Beacon of Hope*
Despite the challenges we face, we remain committed to our mission of sharing the Gospel with our communities. We believe that the Word of God has the power to transform lives and bring hope to those who have lost it.In April, we will be hosting a conference where all our churches will come together to remember the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We expect over 2,000-3,000 attendees, and we believe this will be a powerful opportunity to encourage and comfort one another.
The budget for the Easter conference is approximately $10,600 (K17,000,000), which will cover the costs of tents, rentals, food, transportation, and many other expenses. We trust God to provide for this need and invite you to join us in praying for provision.
*A Call to Action: Supporting Our Ministry*
We are reaching out to you, our friends and well-wishers, to ask for your support during this difficult time. We need your help to continue spreading the Gospel and providing hope to our communities.
2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
We are grateful for any support you can provide, whether financial, prayerful, or both. Your contribution will go directly towards supporting our ministry and helping us to continue sharing the Gospel with our communities.
*How You Can Help*
If you would like to support our ministry, please consider the following:
- Financial support: You can donate directly to our ministry by clicking the "Donate Today" button.
Prayer support: Please pray with us as we ask God to provide for this conference's needs and to bless us with His loving and powerful presence.
- Spreading the word: Please share our newsletter with your friends and family and help us spread the word about our ministry.
*The Impact of Your Support*
Your support will have a direct impact on our ministry, enabling us to:
- Continue sharing the Gospel within our communities
- Provide support and encouragement to our church members
- Train and equip leaders to serve in our churches
*A Word of Encouragement*
We want to end with Psalm 27:1, "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?"
We are not afraid because we know God is our rock and salvation. We are confident that with your support, we will continue to spread the Gospel and bring hope to our communities.
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. We are excited to hear from you soon.
Yours in Christ,
Patrick and Mervis Readson
Note from Michael Weiss: Since the Readsons composed this letter and our publishing it, Malawi has experienced flooding and wind damage to its crops and homes from Cyclone Jude.