Making History, Presidential Visit, and Some New Things

April 2014 Update Village History Maker Children of the Nations (COTN) Malawi began work in Chilombo Village back in 2007. In reality, it is more than one village, it is a collection of villages with a population of over 8,000 people. COTN is partnering with this community in the areas of education, clean water, health care access, sports activities, school nutrition, spiritual development, and others. One of the young people that COTN sponsors in Chilombo is named Davie. Davie is making history in Chilombo Village. Through the COTN University Sponsorship Program, Davie has become the first person ever in his community to go on to higher education! He is studying to become a journalist at the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ). Davie wants to become a sports journalist.  When asked about the opportunity he now has he says, "I'm not taking this for granted. We, as Children of the Nations kids, we are very glad. We are very advantaged to do more things." Davie worked hard to retake his secondary school exams in order to qualify for entrance to MIJ. He is an inspiration to me but more importantly to all of the kids in Chilombo who can now dream to one day go on to higher education and get jobs that will help support and transform their community. Davie has led the way and there are now four others from Chilombo currently enrolled in higher education! I don't think Chilombo Village will ever be the same. It's kids like Davie that give me the passion to work for COTN. President's Visit In March, Chris Clark, the International President and founder of COTN came to Malawi along with his wife Debbie, the co-founder and International Programs Director. Malawi was privileged to host them for three weeks and this of course becomes one of my busiest times of the year.  Lots of meetings, training, tours, events-I'm just now catching my breath a week after their departure! All in all, the president's visit always encourages the local staff and children and helps to move along the vision and mission of COTN. New Things This last month has brought a couple of changes for us. The first is that our next door neighbors who also rent from our same landlord suddenly moved out. This made their house available to us and so we jumped at the chance to move in. The house is much more spacious and will allow us room to host our church small group but more importantly will allow our little family to grow from two to three! Which brings me to an announcement-we are expecting a baby this coming October!  We would appreciate prayers as Madalo goes through her first pregnancy. We plan to do the delivery here at the African Bible College Clinic where Madalo works. They have a nice maternity ward and we get a great rate with Madalo being an employee. We feel very blessed as we move into this new season of life. The other change is that my supervisor at COTN, Peter Drennan, who has served as the Malawi Liaison, announced that he will be taking another position at Pilgrim Africa, a non-profit that works solely in Uganda. Up to this point I have been serving as his Assistant Malawi Liaison but I have now been offered and accepted the full position as the sole Malawi Liaison. This probably doesn't seem like much of a change, but basically it means more responsibility and travel. I will continue to operate from Malawi but will now need to travel to the US once or twice a year for various meetings and training. My main added role is to keep the COTN International President directly informed on all things COTN Malawi and to advocate to our fundraising staff in the US on behalf of Malawi's needs. Partnership  Because of this recent position change, I will be traveling to Seattle this month and will be in the area from April 20th-May 8th. I will be attending some meetings in Silverdale, WA as well as visiting family and friends. I would love a chance to grab lunch and talk about the possibility of partnership either with individuals or churches who would like to join the mission and financially support COTN through child sponsorship, giving to capital projects, organizing service trips to Malawi through our Venture Program, or in directly supporting my salary and work expenses. As most of you know, my work with COTN is dependent on financial support from partners like you. The changes that have taken place make the need for this support even stronger as travel costs, pregnancy and delivery costs, and of course caring for a new baby are all added blessings as well as financial responsibilities. For 2014 we still need to raise $1,175 more in monthly support or $10,575 for the year. Please join us in praying for God to provide! You can partner with us either with a one-time donation or through monthly support by clicking this link: Support Jeremy and Madalo. We really appreciate each one of you who takes the time to read our updates and pray faithfully for us. Feel free to share this newsletter with your friends and family as well so that we can add to the network of people in the COTN family!   Much Love,   &    Jeremy and Madalo Macias Children of the Nations (www.cotni.org) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit and is rated as a 4-star organization for financial management by Charity Navigator. All of your donations will be accompanied by a receipt and are tax deductible in the United States.  Prayer Needs Jeremy as he travels to the US and both Jeremy and Madalo as this will be their longest time apart since getting married! Madalo during her first pregnancy. Health for her and our new baby! Financial provision for the growing Macias family in 2014. Please feel free and be encouraged to share this newsletter with a friend or family member who may be interested in the work of Children of the Nations!

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Pastors, the Scum of the World?

For I think that God has exhibited us apostles [church/spiritual leaders] as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 (ESV)

In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is writing to a church that had become proud of their spirituality, their gifts, their resources, etc. They weren't giving honor to God, the giver of all these things. In response, Paul tells them what his life and the life of the other apostles were like-basically nothing to be proud of in an earthly sense. Pretty terrible in fact, nothing that a person would willingly want unless something larger than life was driving them.

As I read this passage this morning it got me thinking about many of today's church leaders, pastors, prophets, "men of god", "apostles", and "bishops" (I'm not entirely sure what people think they mean when they give themselves these titles). Many of their lives look nothing like what Paul is describing. In fact, quite the opposite is true. I just read in a magazine about a certain pastor in the US who might sign his family up for a reality show, sort of a "Christian Kardashians" as they put it. The show will follow this pastor and his family as they live in their 7,100 square foot mansion and endure the...hardship? of life in church ministry.

I see this a lot as I live here in Africa. So-called, "men of god" and "bishops" living extravagant lifestyles, dressed in the finest clothes, driving the nicest cars. Unfortunately, the prosperity gospel has taken root here in high fashion. Another unfortunate export from the West.

Hear me out, I'm not against wealth.  I believe God blesses some people with material wealth for a reason. I guess the question is: Where is your heart? Are you, as a wealthy person, seeking out that reason and using your wealth to bless others and to serve God?

This brings to mind another famous US pastor who has been blessed with incredible wealth because of some popular books he wrote. He now gives away 90% of his income and keeps the remaining 10% (granted that 10% is probably still a LOT of money). On top of that, he paid back his church for the 25 years of salaries that he had received up to that point and now leads his church with no salary. I just add this to show a contrast to the above mentioned, "reality show" pastor.

I won't go much further into this topic. Just wanted to share the thoughts that came to me as I read this passage and pondered the lives of people called to serve in the ministry of the Gospel. I'll leave you with two questions.

1. If you are a church leader of some sort, does your life have anything in common with Paul's description? If no, why not?

2. If you are part of a church, does its leadership have anything in common with Paul's description? If not, why do you follow them?

Anyway, that's all for now! Comment your thoughts below!