The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malawi refers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and its members in Malawi. The first convert baptisms were performed in 1992. In 2022, there were 3,872 members in 12 congregations. Malawi was one of the fastest growing countries for LDS Church membership over the past decade.
 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malawi | |
|---|---|
| Area | Africa South |
| Members | 3,872 (2022)[1] |
| Districts | 2 |
| Branches | 12 |
History
edit| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 181 |
| 2004 | 480 |
| 2009 | 798 |
| 2014 | 1,931 |
| 2019 | 3,143 |
| 2022 | 3,872 |
In January 1991, there were a small group of American members working in Malawi when Elder Richard P. Lindsay of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and Africa Area President visited Malawi.[3]
The first convert baptisms occurred when Brian and Betty Peedle, missionaries serving in Zimbabwe, drove to Sitima Village in July 1992. They taught and baptized 75 individuals, some waiting as long as 14 years to join the church.[3] These were the first converts to be baptized in the country. Missionary couples traveled to Malawi from Zimbabwe for about a year until unrest from neighboring countries prevented missionaries from entering.[4]
On April 25, 1995, the church received legal recognition in Malawi and it was assigned to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission.[1] In 1999, Elder Dennis E. Simmons of the Seventy and President of the Africa Southeast Area and President Frank Bagley of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission visited the members in Sitima. On May 23, 1999, the Sitima Branch was organized with McFarlane N. Phiri as president.[3] The first missionaries to live in Malawi was a missionary couple, Don and Berylene Frampton who arrived and lived in Blantyre in September 1999. Within a year, the Sitma Branch grew to 200 members. A second branch, located in Blantyre, was organized on July 30, 2000.[1][4]
On July 3, 2005, the first meetinghouse built by the church, located in the Mandala Township in the city of Blantyre was dedicated by President Joseph Jenkins of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission.[5][6] On October 25, 2011, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve, visited Malawi and dedicated the country for the preaching of the gospel.[7][8]
Humanitarian Efforts
editIn 2002, The LDS Church sent food boxes packed by volunteers, cereal, and grain to Malawi and neighboring countries to assist those hindered by the drought.[9] The Church was undertook a campaign to vaccinate Malawians against measles in 2008.[10] In 2016, Lilongwe Mayor, Willie Chapondera, commended missionaries for enhancing behavior change among individuals in the city.[11] In 2018, the LDS Church stated it will continue taking part of national development through its self-reliance program.[12] Between July 2019 and June 2020, partnering with Sightsavers, more than 130,000 people were screened for vision loss, and 924 received sight-restoring surgery.[13][14] In 2020, the LDS Church donated $20 Million to UNICEF's global vaccination effort, benefitting those in Malawi and other countries.[15] The LDS Church raised $200,000 worldwide in 2021 to construct school blocks at a primary school in Traditional Authority Chitukula in Lilongwe and provide desks and other furnishings.[16]
Stakes and Congregations
edit
Green = Stake Center and Meetinghouse
Purple = meetinghouse
As of November 2024, Malawi had the following stakes and congregations:[17]
Lilongwe Malawi Stake
- Chinsapo Branch
- Kalambo 1 Ward
- Kalambo 2 Ward
- Kasungu 1st Ward
- Kasungu 2nd Ward
- Kawale Ward
- Lilongwe Ward
- Presidential Way Ward
Blantyre Malawi Stake
- Bangwe Branch
- Blantyre 1st Ward
- Blantyre 2nd Ward
- Chilomoni Branch
- Chirimba Ward
- Liwonde Branch
- Ndirande 1st Ward
- Ndirande 2nd Branch
- Soche Branch
- Zingwangwa Ward
The Zambia Lusaka Mission Branch serves individuals and families not in proximity to a meetinghouse. Congregations in a district are called branches, regardless of size.
Missions
editOn April 25, 1995, the church received legal recognition in Malawi and it was assigned to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. Malawi became part of the Zambia Lusaka Mission when it was created on July 1, 2011.[4]
Temples
editThere are no temples in Malawi. Malawi is currently located within the Johannesburg South Africa Temple District.[18] Temples under construction or announced that will bring a temple closer to Malawi include: The Harare Zimbabwe Temple[19][20] and the Nairobi Kenya Temple, which are both under construction, and the Beira Mozambique Temple which was announced on April 4, 2021.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Facts and Statistics: Statistics by Country: Malawi", Newsroom, LDS Church, retrieved November 15, 2021
- ^ Wendall J. Ashton; Jim M. Wall, Deseret News, various years, Church Almanac Country Information: Malawi
- ^ a b c "Enduring – Baptized after 14 years", Church News, Deseret News, November 17, 2000, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ a b c Hall, Richard; Avant, Gerry; Stahle, Shaun, eds. (February 2012). "Malawi". 2012 Church Almanac. Deseret News. pp. 512–513. ISBN 978-1-60907-002-1.
- ^ "Meetinghouse in Malawi", Church News, Deseret News, August 18, 2005, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ "2005: Year in review", Church News, Deseret News, December 29, 2005, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Louthan, Bruce and Vonda (February 2013), "Africa Southeast Local Pages: Fulfilling the Words of a Prophet" (PDF), Liahona Africa Southeast, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Sterzer, Rachel (December 31, 2011), "Year in review: Looking back on 2011", Church News, Deseret News, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Moore, Carrie A. (May 30, 2002), Church aiding arid Africa, Deseret News, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Weaver, Sarah Jane (May 15, 2008), "Fighting measles", Church News, Deseret News, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Mogha, Solister (June 17, 2021), Lilongwe Mayor Hails Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints for Enhancing Behavior Change, Nyasa Times, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Kumwenda, Robert (November 13, 2018), Church of Jesus Christ Latter day's saints says it will continue taking part in national development, Face of Malawi, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ "Saving Sight in Malawi", Latter-day Saints Charities, August 7, 2020, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Swensen, Jason (June 17, 2021), "Restoring eyes and lives through the Church's global vision care initiative", Church News, Deseret News, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donates $20M to global COVID-19 vaccination effort, Gephardt Daily, April 30, 2021, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Latter Day Saints to build school blocks, Daily Croc News Malawi, November 30, 2021, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ "Classic Maps", churchofjesuschrist.org, retrieved November 15, 2021
- ^ "Johannesburg South Africa Temple District", churchofjesuschristtemples.org, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Sterzer, Rachel (May 6, 2016), "Members rejoice at announcement of new temples", Church News, Deseret News, retrieved November 30, 2021
- ^ Taylor, Scott (December 12, 2020), "With nation's president in attendance, ground broken for Harare Zimbabwe Temple", Church News, Deseret News, retrieved November 30, 2021
External links
edit- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Africa South) - Official Site
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - African Newsroom
- Blantyre Malawi District - Facebook Page
- ComeUntoChrist.org Latter-day Saints Visitor site