Mennonite Brethren Church in Malawi
The Mennonite Brethren Church in Malawi began on 13 September 2009 when Safari Bahati Mutabesha from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) began a church in Dzaleka Refugee Camp along with several families. The church was comprised of people who were refugees from DRC, Burundi, and Rwanda. Eventually the church grew to two congregations within the camp and many more beyond the refugee camp in 10 additional districts in Malawi by 2023.
The emphasis is on holistic churches, planted through door to door evangelism, open air meetings, Bible study groups, and discipleship training. Main objectives are providing counseling and conflict resolution in the community, and services and activities that address and alleviate the effects of poverty. Church leadership and mission training is provided by the denomination's founder, Safari, and leaders from Canada through the Missional Leadership Training program. Mission work by the Mennonite Brethren Church in Malawi is being carried out in Mozambique and plans were underway in 2026 to work in Zambia.
Food security is addressed by promoting drip irrigation technology through demonstration gardens, and a culture of saving is encouraged through a program called Village Savings and Loans (VSL). The church promotes hygiene and sanitation activities through health communities, and provides eyeglasses at a fraction of the cost that would be paid in the capital city through MENNO Eyeglass Clinic.
Climate change is being addressed through reforestation projects in areas where MB churches are located. This includes the planting of new trees as well as the regeneration of forest areas.
The denomination has a close relationship with Mennonite Central Committee and the two organizations work together to address gender-based violence and material aid.
In 2022 Safari Bahati Mutabesha, who had led the church from its founding, returned to DRC and was succeeded by Shadreck Kwendanyama.
In 2026 the denomination had 69 churches and approximately 24,000 members and adherents. One primary school was operated by the church inside the Dzaleka camp and a second school outside Dzaleka camp.
Bibliography
Faber, Connie. "Mennonite Brethren Church in Malawi." Christian Leader (1 July 2023). https://christianleadermag.com/icomb-mennonite-brethren-church-in-malawi/.
"The Gospel with Two Hands: Physical and Spiritual Development." Mennonite World Conference. 2 January 2024. Web. 9 March 2026. https://mwc-cmm.org/en/stories/gospel-two-hands-physical-and-spiritual-development/
| Author(s) | Shadreck Kwendanyama |
|---|---|
| Richard D. Thiessen | |
| Date Published | March 2026 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Kwendanyama, Shadreck and Richard D. Thiessen. "Mennonite Brethren Church in Malawi." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2026. Web. 15 Apr 2026. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mennonite_Brethren_Church_in_Malawi&oldid=181894.
APA style
Kwendanyama, Shadreck and Richard D. Thiessen. (March 2026). Mennonite Brethren Church in Malawi. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 15 April 2026, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mennonite_Brethren_Church_in_Malawi&oldid=181894.
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