Mission Moments: Malawi
Reaching an unreached people group: ‘Yes, we can’
By Gary Fallesen, founding president, Climbing For Christ
The question arose at the 2016 Finishing the Task Conference, where we learned that the Ngoni people of Malawi were listed among the unreached. I asked Damson Samson, Climbing For Christ’s missionary to East Africa and a native of Malawi, if he knew of the Ngoni.
“Mainly, these people fled from South Africa after the Zulu defeated them,” Damson said. “Another group came from Tanzania. This group was led by Zwangenda and lived in Ntcheu, while the first (group from South Africa) lived in Mzimba. Currently they have gone around Malawi and the principals of these people eat meat and drink local beer. Wherever they are celebrating beer must be available. Usually they dress in skins of animals, declaring they are great hunters. In a time before they used to fight, but now only beer is taking over. They go to church, but there is more need for this group to be reached with the Gospel.”
“Could we reach these Ngoni?” I asked.
“Yes,” Damson said, “we can reach them very well.”
Damson went to work seeking a people that numbers 268,000 in Malawi. They are considered engaged but as yet unreached, according to the International Mission Board (Southern Baptist Church). Globally, this group totals 1.3 million people in four countries (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia). The primary religion is ethnic (folk religions).
Definitions:
Unreached - An unreached or least-reached people is a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance. (Joshua Project)
Engaged - A people group is engaged when a church planting strategy, consistent with evangelical faith and practice, is under implementation. (IMB)
“The first time I went (to Ntcheu in the Central Region of Malawi) to find ways and a means to how we can start working with them,” Damson said. “I was connected to the group village head. She welcomed the (outreach) and said it will be a right thing to reach the Ngoni because they are very distracted with their culture. Youths are drinking beer to the maximum and there is no hope for their future. Babies are given beer so they can be drunk as parents are doing any work. We are talking about breastfed kids!”
Damson returned to Ntcheu in May and met with leaders from 17 churches, “who welcomed us with great joy.” He shared with them about reaching this reportedly unreached people group. “They were very excited and said it is a great honor to have us working in their community. They welcomed (the outreach) with thanksgiving and the understanding that not all organizations have the priority of bringing Christ Jesus to people who are being destroyed by their culture, like the Ngoni.
“Some culture (traditions) and beliefs have been encouraging people to sin against God.”
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Ngoni committee that is partnering with Climbing For Christ. (Photo by Damson Samson)
The church leaders that Damson met with established a committee of 10 people “with a good background of their (Ngoni) culture” to assist us with local authorities. “This tells me that we are ready to reach every angle of the district without any interference,” Damson said.
The next step in this outreach project will be determined during Mission: Malawi 2017 (June 22-July 2). Pray on! 
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