"A place to believe, a place to belong; a place to grow and a place to serve."

Chisomo Street Project, Lilongwe, Malawi

The Chisomo Street Project in Lilongwe provides care for estranged and orphaned children living on the streets. Below are some photos from our visit.

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Malavi CCAP - Our Partner Church in Malawi

Dr David Livingstone is highly regarded in Malawi for his missionary work in Nyasaland (now Malawi). With many other Scottish missionaries he introduced a church structure based on the Church of Scotland where many schools were linked to their local church.

In October 2008 Anna McIndoe visited Blantyre in Malawi and worked in Malavi Primary School. The school has 1200 very happy and motivated pupils with 12 highly committed teachers in the poorest school building imaginable by our educational standards. It is within 100 metres of Malavi CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian) and is the centre of the village community.

A kind welcome from Malavi CCAP

The old missionary church had collapsed many years ago and the villagers had completely rebuilt the church themselves using their own resources, time and talents. Anna was warmly welcomed into the church and was introduced to the Kirk Session and congregation by Feston Thamangiwa the Session Clerk. The Church was packed with over 300 villagers seated on the bare wooden pews. There was no organ but the singing was richly melodic and harmonious. There were many choirs – the Youth Choir, Guild Choir, Children’s Choir, ‘A’ Choir, ‘B’ Choir – who all sang and danced at various times during the service. The service was the same as our CoS format with scripture readings, prayers, sermon, collection and Sunday school – however it was a bit longer starting at 9.30 am and finishing at 11.30 am. Although English is the language spoken at school, in Church the service is conducted in the national language, Chichewa.

Full congregation at Malavi Church of Central Africa Presbyterian

In May 2009 two Malawi teachers visited Anna at Inverkip Primary School. Mackson and Henderson were also Elders at Malavi CCAP and visited us at OG & A. They spoke during our Sunday service to convey the best wishes from everyone at Malavi CCAP.

The following year, John McIndoe visited Malawi and joined in fellowship and worship at Malavi CCAP. The idea of a partnership was discussed with the Malavi Kirk Session and with their recently appointed minister Rev Steven Kumatzo. Back in Gourock the OG&A KS fully supported our proposed partnership with the congregation of Malavi CCAP.

In October 2010, John McIndoe returned to Malawi and presented Malavi CCAP with gifts of a Bible, pulpit fall and a communion tablecloth to mark our new partnership. In return Malavi CCAP presented a Partnership Banner to OG&A which is on display in the Islay hall.

Malavi CCAP Our Partner Church in Malawi

In November 2010, in the coldest winter conditions imaginable we were warmed by the visit of Allen and Rita from Malavi Primary. Both sang Malawian hymns as an unaccompanied duet during our morning service. Allen (who is the wife of the Malavi CCAP Session Clerk) also addressed the Gateway Group with a touching account of life in Malawi.

Although we are 6000 miles apart there are many friends of OG&A in Malawi in both with our partner church, Malavi CCAP and Malavi Primary School.