Capital:
Lilongwe
Population:
13,931,831
Languages:
Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6%
Religion:
Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3%
Life Expectancy:
43.45 years
GDP per-capita:
$800
Of Interest:
The Great Rift Valley runs through the country from north to south. In this deep trough lies Lake Malawi (also called Lake Nyasa), the third-largest lake in Africa, and the 10th largest in the world, making up about 20% of Malawi's area. Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries.
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Zambia
Voice Of God Recordings - Malawi
Office Manager:
Brother Mostapher Paul Saidi
Countries or Provinces Served:
Office serves the whole country consisting of 4 provinces, and the office is operating from the Southern Province of Malawi.
Office Staff - 3 Employees:
Brother Mostapher Paul Saidi - Office ManagerSister Chisomo Mogra - Secretary & Receptionist Brother Mateyu Kelasoni - Volunteer Special Information:
Voice of God Recordings Malawi office is located in the central business district of Blantyre, operating from rented properties, along the Jomo Kenyatta Street, opposite Chitawira grave yard, Blantyre, Malawi.
Short History of Office:
Voice of God Recordings Library started its operations in the home of Brother Dixon Kandoje in the 1980's as a distribution center for the books and tapes. Translation of messages was also done in Brother Dixon Kandoje's house. Later in 1989, Brother Mostapher Saidi was taken on board to assist in the operations of the library and in the translation work.
The offices were found in December 2001, by a team of VGR representatives. In January, 2002, Malawi VGR office was officially opened, and Brother Mostapher Saidi became it's full time office manager in August of the same year. It serves the entire country with approximately 25,000 believers. There are over 230 churches, 68 seed libraries, and 8 full libraries that receive supplies from the office. The office maintains a close supervision of all the libraries across the country to ensure that they are properly operated within the policies and regulations of VGR.
The office has grown from a simple house operation to a busy, fully-fledged national office, implementing a basket of activities. It operates 9 hours a day, Monday through Friday, and 3 hours on Saturdays.
Translation work also constitutes one of the major components of the work. The primary translation language is Chichewa. Chitumbuka and Kyangonde languages have also been introduced on the translation profile.
The office has a 20 ft container outside as its main storehouse, and two rooms inside as small storerooms. The reception has a big room that facilitates the lending library. There is also a kitchen and the manager's office.
Short History of Office Manager:
I was raised in a very strict Muslim setting, as my family was deeply rooted in Islam for many generations, and my father himself is a well respected leader. By the Grace of the LORD, in 1986 during school holidays, my childhood friend testified to me about his newly found faith. He even introduced me to a minister in the Message who talked to me about baptism.
I made an instant decision to embrace the Message of the Hour, knowing very well the drastic consequences I would suffer from my father, family, and friends. I was to learn later on that I had underestimated my father's reaction. I endured many forms of physical persecution from my father, but nothing could shake me. He later on disowned me completely and chased me from home. I became completely destitute and my remaining years of high school were an extreme torture. I solely depended on willing brothers who would keep me in their homes.