God of the Impossible
by Ernest & Cheryl Turner
Driving up to the Guthrie Bible School gate, we were pleasantly surprised to see all the women and children gathered around the water well. After many years of struggling without water, the Lord sent a missionary to drill a “bore-hole” for a well at the School. It has been such a blessing to everyone, not only to the students, but also to the surrounding community. Jesus told us that He would give us “rivers of living water that would flow from our bellies.” “The love of Jesus is being poured out to all those who visit the well on a daily basis.”
Cheryl and I had arrived for two weeks of leadership training at the Guthrie Bible School in Blantyre, Malawi where our missionary Althea Meyer resides. During our early years of ministry, we had joined our missionaries, the Fannins, for conferences and leadership training many times. Malawi was then a young developing country, beautiful and full of promise. But as we drove through the city this day, we saw a very different picture. It was as if time had stood still… Malawi is struggling! They have very little means other than agriculture and all it takes is one crop failure to cripple the masses.
But the Lord is always faithful … A Malawian lady by the name of Madalitso Mataka was to be in our leadership classes. When she was a young lady in her late teens, Madalitso visited the doctor with stomach cramps and to her horror, she was diagnosed with cancer. Radiation and Chemotherapy were too expensive and totally beyond her means, so she returned to her village to die. Usually when this happens, the people in Africa will seek help from the witch doctor, but Madalitso’s Christian faith was strong. She trusted the Lord, daring to believe that He was a God who was able to overcome the impossible. She believed in a God that not only died for her sins, but also died for the healing of her body. He had made a covenant with His people. After returning to the village she began to fast and pray, asking God to deliver her from her infirmity or take her home to be with Him. God saw Madalitso’s faith and heard her cry. In His compassion, He reached down and touched her body, delivering her from all sickness and disease.
When we met Madalitso in Malawi several months ago, she had four children and is presently pastoring a growing church on the outskirts of Lilongwe, the capitol city of Malawi. Her husband also serves as a pastor of a second church nearby. In the leadership classes, we taught and studied World Evangelism and Tithing.
At this time we are in the States promoting the work in Africa and raising support. Many of you have faithfully supported us financially for most of our Missionary careers and we are most grateful. Thank you for your sacrifice! Some of you have given us a regular increase in support as the Lord has provided, others have remained steady and consistent maintaining a regular amount each month. For all of you we are deeply grateful! We are now humbly requesting that you prayerfully consider a 15-25% increase in your current giving. This will expedite our return to the field with a full budget and would be greatly appreciated.
The Lord encourages us in His word, Luke 11:9, “So I tell you to ask and you will receive…” This is the first time in 33 years that we have ever made a financial appeal of this nature. We are in a place right now where we need your help. The work in Africa is growing and there is yet so much that needs to be done. Please consider coming alongside us at this time and increasing your faith commitment and financial partnership with us. If you would like us to visit your church and share what the Lord is doing in Africa, please contact us at: Turnerafrica@aol.com or cherylafrica@aol.com or call or text us at: (918)260-7719 or (918)706 4574.
Photo credit: Ernest & Cheryl Turner