(Photo: Church of Scotland)
Ties between Scotland and Malawi have grown stronger over the past twenty years, thanks to the collaboration between Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn Parish Church and Thondwe Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). Their partnership focuses on five main pillars: reducing food poverty, promoting economic development, enhancing health services, advancing education, and furthering religious missions.
In 2016, the Thondwe Community Partnership was initiated, broadening the scope of this relationship to include shared learning and development opportunities.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in August 2024, Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, alongside his wife Christine, Church of Scotland’s Carol Finlay, and partnership leader Denis Robson, visited the community of Thondwe in Malawi’s Zomba district.
During the visit, the impact of the partnership was evident, exemplified by the collaboration between St Ronan’s Primary School in Innerleithen and a local school in Thondwe.
Dr Paterson shared his experiences with the Innerleithen congregation, emphasizing, “What impressed me the most was he [Denis Robinson] took no credit and he spoke about the contribution and support from the congregation and the community.” He highlighted the mutual benefits of twinning, noting, “it’s not just about giving, it’s about receiving from Thondwe.”
A memorable moment for Dr Paterson was seeing a £10 solar-powered light enable nighttime study for children in a school lacking electricity, with classrooms crowded with up to 115 students.
Inspired by this, he launched the Moderator’s Challenge to raise funds for solar-powered lights for students. Since its inception in December, the initiative has raised £22,019, assisting both primary students and PhD candidates at Zomba Theological University.
Moved by the innovation, Dr Paterson conveyed his gratitude to the villagers for the twinning that allowed him to “hear God’s message.” He reflected on his mission, stating, “I thank the good people of the village for bringing me down from the lofty heights of being Moderator, bringing me down from the mountain and recognising that God has a job for me to do.”
He added, “God was saying to me ‘you’ve seen how lives can be enriched and opportunities opened up – you are the Moderator, use your position to make a practical difference in education.’”
Dr Paterson also expressed his honor in receiving a live chicken from the villagers, which he passed on to a neighboring village as a goodwill gesture. He noted, “Sharing is at the heart of the gospel.”
Another key event was the blessing of a newly constructed bridge replacing one destroyed by Cyclone Freddy in 2023. This bridge now connects Thondwe to the school.
Addressing his congregation, Dr Paterson remarked, “What you have enabled, what my challenge has raised, cannot really be regarded as a miracle but the difference it makes to God’s children, our neighbors in Malawi, is miraculous.”
Rev Fraser Edwards of Innerleithen expressed his joy for Dr Paterson’s visit, stating, “It is a strong partnership between the two churches and the two village schools have a strong partnership too with life in Malawi being the subject of assemblies in Innerleithen.”
“I am in regular contact with Rev James Chigoli and we share hymns and prayers – our partnership is about learning from each other and we lend support where we can. It expands our faith because it reminds us that we are part of a church that is bigger than the Church of Scotland,” he added.
Last year, the partnership achieved notable milestones, such as rebuilding two bridges for safer access to schools, providing uniforms and desks, and establishing a school garden and light library.
Additionally, the partnership aided 150 girls with menstrual hygiene kits and health education, and provided 20 pairs of spectacles to teachers and church members.
The church garden produced thirty 50kg bags of maize for vulnerable families, and also provided seeds and fertilizer for the 2025 season.
Furthermore, the Scottish church delivered Good News Bibles to Thondwe and supported local purchases of Chichewa Bibles from the Bible Society of Malawi.
This year’s plans include starting a school feeding program, planting banana and mango trees, supplying 10 corrugated iron roofs, diversifying crops, and repairing the school borehole and rainwater drainage system.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
