Pastor Stazio shepherds six different congregations. With some churches up to 52 kilometres from his home, he leaves a day ahead of time to make the four-hour bike ride, alternating weekend services at each church.

In Malawi, the Africa Evangelical Church (AEC) has approximately 65 churches, but only 18 AEC pastors to lead them. With a shortage of leaders, men like Pastor Stazio are left to look after multiple congregations.

Bible colleges equip church leaders
The Evangelical Bible College of Malawi (EBCoM) is working to change the current situation. The college provides both certificate and diploma programmes for those training to become church leaders.

Additionally, EBCoM offers continual ministry training in the form of extension courses and refresher seminars. By investing in these current and potential pastors, God is using the college to grow and strengthen the Malawian Church. But there’s a problem . . .

As citizens of one of the world’s poorest countries, most of the men who have a passion for church leadership are not able to afford Bible college tuition.

To help, SIM has come alongside the church and developed a scholarship programme. Six students received scholarships to EBCoM during the 2006/07 school year, and seven more students received scholarships to attend Bible colleges—six  in other areas of Malawi and one in the UK.

As a graduate of EBCoM, Pastor Stazio represents the commitment to ministry that Bible colleges help instil in their students. Pastoring six congregations can be demanding and stressful, but even when it gets tough, Pastor Stazio is not about to give up. ‘I’ve been chosen by God,’ he says, ‘so I can’t resign’.

Get involved
Pray: Please pray for Pastor Stazio and the other AEC pastors who are serving faithfully with many responsibilities.

Give: Your financial gift will enable an aspiring pastor to be trained to effectively lead the church.  Gifts should be sent to the SIM-UK office, marked for project MW 96454. Alternatively, you can give online by clicking on the link below.

Go: Are you trained to teach in a Bible school? There is a place for you in Malawi.

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