By Chizaso Chunga of Lilongwe, Malawi
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea…
I would like to tell a story about my encounter as I ministered to the sick that transformed my understanding about ministry of healing.
If you must talk about church history of Malawi Mission Center, you cannot skip Lamech Hezron Gausi. He is the person who received the church in Malawi when Bunda Chibwe from Zambia and Gamaliel Owour from Kenya came to Malawi to start Community of Christ in 1989.
When I was at a theological school in Lilongwe, I became curious to know the story of Malawi Mission Center Church. So the person I understood could tell me more was Hezron Gausi. I approached him and he did. Because of this contact, we became good friends. One day I invited the whole congregation in Mzimba to have a worship service at his house because he was an elderly person.
A week later, after the worship service, he fell ill and was admitted to the district hospital. When I heard the news of his sickness I decided to go and see him. I was prepared to encourage him with scripture hoping for him to heal fast.
But when I entered the ward, I stood by the bed feeling sorry for him. And before I said anything, he said, “My son, it’s your turn now to do ministry; for me it is finished. I believe I have done my part. Do you remember the words of Paul to Timothy in his second letter in chapter 4 verse 2? He recited it:“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season…[and] ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young…’”
He spoke many words of encouragement. Then I prayed and went home. After the following few days, he passed away.
Why this story?
Most of the time when people are down, we think they are the ones who need our encouragement. But God works the opposite. He has many surprises for us in this life and ministry. Wholistic healing does not only mean physical healing. It means healing of both the body and the soul. The healing that involves the whole being of the person. From this day my life transformed, and I understood things differently. Because for me healing was only physical, this is why sometimes we get disappointed when the physical does not happen. Hezron Gausi was physically weak but spiritually strong to encourage me even on his death bed.
Prayer Phrase
“Let us work for the good of all” (Galatians 6:10).
Spiritual Hunger
Jesus discerned hungers of body and spirit, and he fed them through a physical, verbal, spiritual ministry of presence. In a time of listening prayer, ask God to help you discern physical or spiritual hungers of people in your congregation, community, and global family. Invite the Spirit to move you to one hospitable act that “feeds” someone’s hunger today.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.