Outreach to Malawi Flood Victims

SOUTHBURY, CT – Calvary Chapel Southbury has been involved extensively in the impoverished African countries of Malawi and Mozambique over the past decade. The church has installed many wells in areas without access to clean drinking water, established two feeding centers for orphans and the aged, offered scholarships for students, and provided training and material support for hundreds of pastors.

Last month, heavy rain began in these areas, leading to flooding as Lake Malawi and other bodies of water overflowed. A month’s worth of rain fell in one 24-hour period and more rain is expected in the coming week. As reported by BBC news, Malawi’s president, Peter Mutharika, has appealed for emergency foreign aid, having declared one-third of the country a disaster zone.

“The death toll is now 176 and over 200,000 have been displaced after their houses were destroyed by the floods,” Malawi Vice President, Saulos Chilima, told a news conference on Friday. “At least 153 people are missing.”

In Mozambique, it was reported that a group of 25 schoolchildren was swept away by floodwater. Homes and crops have been destroyed and waterborne diseases like cholera, dysentery and typhoid are expected to increase as a result of the flooding.

Calvary Southbury’s feeding center in Malawi (where 165 people are fed twice per day), is still standing and plans are underway to help ease the suffering of area refugees by beginning a massive emergency program from the center as soon as possible, providing food rations for at least 1,000 people over a 4-5 month period. The church will provide seed for a new planting, to replace crops that have been destroyed, and aid in the rebuilding of homes.

If you would like more information or to help provide financial support for these relief plans, please call Calvary Chapel Southbury at 203.267.5441 or email calvary@calvarysouthbury.com.