Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27
‘When you can do good, defer it not, because alms delivers from death.”
Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155) in Saints’ Quotes: Holy Quotations for Purification of the Soul, Collection on Alms.
This Palmful of Maize journey is changing my life. That’s a big statement. Let me explain what I mean. When I first visited Malawi in December 2021, I met a warm and humble people that were both receptive to biblical teaching.
But they were also stuck. Their focus was off. The mindset looked at what they did not have. They were slaves to the scarcity mindset. So, when I challenged them to give God what they had, everything changed. If you are stuck, this is the solution.
I had no idea we could get the attention of the nation. But accomplishing that would cost me everything! We worked with the Sunday School Teacher’s United Movement who had a link to ever Sunday School class because they provide the curriculum.
We reasoned together that to reach 12 of the 28 districts in the country would cost $60,000. That was all we had in available funds at GTP. And, it would take six months. God was leading and it was within our power to do good.
We hired a team, Deployed them, and it’s worked. But we were aiming too low. We wanted to unleash generosity. God’s using this to draw a people tp Himself in faith. The generosity is winning souls to Christ.
On this trip we have visited 1 of 4 districts so far (pictured above) to get a sampling of the first fruits in the first 12. Pray for safe travel as we drive. Tomorrow we go from Lilongwe to Karonga, to Chitipa, back to Mzuzu, then Mzimba and back to Lilongwe. Find us on a map.
It’s about as remote as you can get. Revival is breaking out. Stay tuned for a video. The team needs two laptops, funds to visit the other 16 regions. Where will it come from? At GTP we gave God what we have. Now, we are praying others do the same.
And now I realize why Polycarp said this quote! The collection of maize from this poor church inspired 10 new families to come and 5 families have stayed saying they want to follow Jesus with their generous neighbors. The maize delivered them from death!
Praying that if you have resources you will give them to GTP today. Give big. $5,000 is the equivalent to transforming a village. $1,000 buys a laptop. $80,000 will help us spread the message to the rest of the nation. That’s a bargain from an eternal view.
Give as God leads you. Handful of Rice is replicating as Palmful of Maize in Malawi.