Mbeya

Operation and Staffing of Zola Zola Community Center in Malawi: Mbeya continued the operation and staffing of Zola Zola Community Center. We had three full-time Malawian staff living at the center. In partnership with students from the Bible College, they continued youth outreach and evangelism programs in the community. Additionally, in partnership with Mzuzu Prisons, we continued our program of gang-reduction initiatives in the township. Youth and children's programs, such as drama clubs, choirs, dance clubs and community outreaches continued. Year 2023 impact in the community through the combined programs was in the thousands.

Development of Rural Youth Centers. We continued the construction and development of rural retreat and outreach centers in Malawi. Construction continued at Thekerro Retreat Center in Rumphi District, and we hosted our first two youth retreats there. Additionally, we began construction of a Msongwe Youth Center in the rural village of Msongwe outside of Mzuzu. These centers will serve as ministry hubs for Bible College students from which to launch outreaches and conduct trainings in the surrounding districts and villages. They are both currently under construction. Impact to the community is significant, as construction and upkeep has employed dozens of local workers in both communities. The construction projects have injected income and resources into both communities. Community members in the thousands will be served through programs, outreaches and trainings.

Operation and Staffing of Bethel Bible College (BBC) in Mzuzu, Malawi. In 2023, the Bible College took on two, full-time former students who served in the capacity of interns and resided on campus at the college. They received a monthly stipend in exchange for work on campus and ministry in Mzuzu and Zola Zola. In addition to the interns, we continued Bible College classes for part-time students. We maintained the Bible College campus in Mzuzu, which also serves as the Malawian office for our ministry, with four full-time staff residing on the premises who oversaw all programs, projects, and maintenance.

Donor Relations. For three months, the Director visited churches and donors in the U.S., giving presentations and communicating updates and reports on all of the projects in which Mbeya is engaged, as well as communicating future vision for the ministry. This consisted primarily of traveling throughout the U.S. and visiting different groups in different states.