UrbanPromise International

Blog: 2015

Report from the 2015 UPI Malawi Summit
July 22, 2015

By Samuel Malasa Banda, Cornerstone Ministries

Three days of inspiration, learning and promise can best describe the UrbanPromise International (UPI) staff summit held at the Natural Resources College in Lilongwe from Thursday 16 July to Saturday 18 July 2015.

Speaking during the opening session, Reverend Dr. Bruce Main, Founder and President of UrbanPromise International, emphasised the importance of appreciating each and every person that the ministries work with.

Basing his remarks in Psalm 8, Dr. Main stated, “Every human being matters. It’s easy to say this but difficult to live it.”  Dr.  Main spiced his talk with educative anecdotes which helped the audience reflect upon themselves in relation to their work as servants of people.

Some of the topics covered in the sessions were Child Protection, facilitated by Mrs Monica Chang’anamuno; Sports and Youth Ministry led by parliamentarian Sam Kawale; Helping Youth Reach Their Full Potential led by Cindy Stallo, and Servant Leadership covered by the Student Christian Organisation of Malawi General Secretary Patrick Kaudzu.

In his presentation on servant leadership, Kaudzu bemoaned the tendency of the church in Malawi where it always blames the government of practising transactional leadership instead of transformational management of the country.

“Malawi has been a republic for only 51 years while the church has been there since time immemorial. So between the church and government who is supposed to take the blame for failing to produce development conscious leaders?” he asked the audience.

The conference brought together workers from six UPI-affiliate ministries: Cornerstone Ministries Malawi from the lakeshore district of Salima, YouthCare from Chitipi Lilongwe, ChristCares Ministries working in the Kanengo area of Lilongwe, RiseMalawi from Madisi Dowa, Rays of Hope from Chilomoni Blantyre, and ProjectTEACH which implements its activities in Luchenza, Thyolo.

Representing participants and their organisations, Board Chair for RiseMalawi Richard Chigwenembe commended UPI’s work which has helped young people and other vulnerable groups in Malawi reach their full potential through supporting its affiliated ministries. 

A CORNERSTONE NAMED JENNY
May 14, 2015

Read on for a glimpse into life at UrbanPromise Honduras, one of UPI's affiliate ministries!

“I will give thanks to You because You have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord; it is wonderful in our eyes.”
Psalm 118:21-23

There is a girl at Camp Hope, named Jenny, who was having a rough time at school last year. One of her teachers often got frustrated with her apparent lack of concentration and sometimes belittled her by calling her dumb, or exasperatedly questioned why she didn’t understand. This was her experience of first grade, and a tough one at that.

Now, I know that our AfterSchool Programs aren’t filled with behavioral psychologists, child therapists, or experts in education- instead we have teenagers who are also struggling at school and a staff team who offer only love. But what they are doing works!

What Jenny found at Camp Hope was acceptance, people that would listen to her, and encouragement. 

Often at times of transition what we need isn’t more information or to be told what to do, but people who believe in us and encourage us to not give up.

This seems to have been the case for Jenny. Now a second grader, her story is a very different one. That same teacher actually appointed her class president, which means that she is responsible for organizing the group work that is done in class along with some other smaller responsibilities. This is a pretty big deal! Somewhere during the past year she went from being the stone that the builders rejected to becoming the cornerstone.

Last time she spoke to her Camp Director, her new struggle was that she was nervous about what this new leadership role would be like. From glory to glory we go, and the cycle of encouragement continues.

Hugh Stacey
Executive Director, UrbanPromise Honduras
If we build it, they will learn.
March 11, 2015

Peter Gamula glanced at his email, blinked twice, and reread the entry dated December 29, 2014...three times.
        
"What would you do with $10,000?"  asked the sender, a friend of UrbanPromise International.

Surprised by what he was reading, and hyperventilating with excitement, Peter quickly typed out the words, "I’d build a library for our high school students."
 
Peter continued to explain to the prospective donor the current situation at his Mercy High School in the village of Kanengo, Malawi.
 
"We started the school five years ago,” he wrote, “just 20 students, a borrowed building, and a small grant from UrbanPromise International. Now, our school is thriving, educating 400 eager learners each day. We own our land and classrooms.”  Peter continued to share how this rural town used to be an educational wasteland—with only a handful of teens from this incredibly impoverished community going to high school. But now, reminded Peter as he penned his final words, Kanengo boasts one of the best high schools in the region.

"But we have no library."

Peter delayed pushing the send button for a few seconds, said a quick prayer, and hoped he had convinced the donor that his vision for a new library was worthy of support.
 
A few hours later came the reply, “Count me in!”  The donor happily committed to funding the construction of the new library...and had mailed the check. That was December 29th.

You may find it hard to believe, but within the past four weeks, the library's foundation has been laid, walls have gone up, and the roof has been installed. Tables and chairs have been ordered.  That’s how fast things can move in a country like Malawi with competent leaders like Peter.

Now all that's needed for the library are books!

And this is where I need your help. Our donor friend has graciously made an additional gift!

He will match, book for book, each gift you send up to $1,000.

That means, if you buy a book—he'll buy the second book. If you make a generous tax-exempt donation, he'll match it dollar for dollar!

So let's excitedly fill the library with books for the teens of Kanengo!  Let’s remind these kids that they are precious in God’s sight and deserve the tools needed to succeed in life. 

I await your reply with great anticipation—as do Peter Gamula and the students.

Bruce

P.S.  If you would like to give a book in honor of a loved one, let us know and we'll make sure they receive an acknowledgment.

Interested in sponsoring a capital project? Email Nadia for more info! 

 

 

THE INTERSECTION WHERE VISION AND PASSION COLLIDE.
January 19, 2015

MARGARET WOOTEN, DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS UPI


“You cannot pick up a pebble with one finger.”-Malawian proverb

When we reflect on the last 7 years—on what has been learned, built, and accomplished, it’s striking to see the results of UPI’s work in the countries we serve.

7 ministries in Africa. An orphanage housing over 20 young boys. 2 high schools educating over 600 students each year. Feeding programs, counseling classes, mentorship groups, creative arts, sports, field trips, and Bible lessons—all of it helping to transform the lives of thousands of youth.

The beautiful thing about UPI is intersection—finding those places where vision and passion can collide, sending ripples of change throughout communities around the world.

Our vision for ministry rests on the shoulders of those churches and individual donors who—through commitments of time, talents, and treasure—have spurred us onward, giving UPI much needed support and encouragement.

One such church is New Hanover United Methodist.

A partner in ministry since our inception, this congregation is one of exceptional generosity. They’ve sponsored children in our ministries, hosted fellows, outfitted our schools with desks, built a boys orphanage, offered staff support, and have contributed in so many other meaningful ways.

This is no mega-church made up of millionaires. It’s just a group of people who truly believe that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Lead pastor Dave Lewis visited Malawi in September, and through his conversations with ministry leaders learned of the need for a girls’ orphanage. In Malawi, a country where child marriage and teen pregnancy is rampant, there is a paucity of safe spaces where girls can learn and dream.

This year, the church decided to take an offering on Christmas Eve in the hopes of raising enough money to build a girls’ home in Malawi.

$68,000 was raised. More than enough to build the structure, furnish the home, and cover staffing costs. More than enough to create different realities for those that we serve.

Pastor Lewis notes that “a well built, appropriately furnished home staffed by caring Christian disciples will bless many lives over the years. New Hanover UMC cannot think of a better gift to give Christ at Christmas.”  

We are both humbled and thankful for this exceptional community of givers and are excited to witness the impact of their generosity.

 

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