MALAWI, Africa – In 1998, when International Mission Board Missionary Gary Robertson left the United States to serve the Tumbuku people of Malawi, Africa, he had a strong sense that he was representing Missouri Baptist churches.
“Before I left I remember meeting with the WMU of the Gasconade Valley Baptist Association and realizing that they were the churches that were sending me,” said Robertson, a native of Linn. “None of them could send a missionary on their own but together they, and many more Missouri Baptist churches, were promising to support me and my family through their gifts to the Cooperative Program (CP).”
Now it is 13 years later and Robertson, along with his wife, Michelle, and children, Samuel, 9, and Lydia, 7, is still helping to plant churches in Malawi, specifically by training Tumbuku leaders.
“One of the limiting factors in starting churches in Malawi is trained leadership,” Robertson said. “This is where I put a large part of my efforts, preparing lessons and translating them into Tumbuku. We do training on the local church level, associational training events, as well as a two-year Bible school. We rejoice to see men and women hungering to learn God’s word and growing in their faith and service.”
Robertson also serves with the churches in the Mzimba and Kumzi Baptist Associations to spread the gospel “the old fashion way.”
“When we have days to witness in the village, we go house to house,” he said. “The Malawi people are warm-hearted and are honored that we come to their houses. We sit in chairs under trees or in the shade of a house while they gather nearby people. Most have never heard of receiving forgiveness of sin or how to have a saving relationship with Jesus. Walking in the African sun can be very draining but we rejoice in the new believers and the seeds that are sown in the hearts of those who have not yet received Him.”
Robertson has also been involved in several physical-needs ministry projects. Most recently, he joined his association in facilitating the drilling of deep wells in locations with bad water sources.
“Addressing these human needs has been important as we try to show that Jesus cares about the spiritual and physical needs of all people,” he said.
Robertson said the CP is an integral part of every facet of their ministry in Malawi. He said giving through the CP conveys a testimony of Missouri Baptists’ love for the lost and that they are united in obedience to the Great Commission.
“When the first church in Jerusalem came together with one heart, God worked mightily in their midst,” Robertson said. “When churches, big and small, work together to advance the kingdom of God through the Cooperative Program it shows their one heartedness and I am certain God will continue to do mighty things among Missouri Baptist churches. We are humbled to know that people are making sacrifices to keep us on the field. We never take that for granted.”