Malawi is known as one of only 2 countries in Africa never to have had a war. So it is generally a haven of peace and the people are reluctant to express discontent. But you may have heard that there is a fuel crisis that has lead to lines of over 100 cars at every petrol station, plus a recent announcement that Britain is suspending 90M pounds of budget aid to the government.

So there were major demonstrations in the streets yesterday, and we had to cancel classes. Please pray for peace and wisdom on all sides, especially with rumours of deaths in the streets yesterday of a policeman and a poor little girl trampled.

It’s Wednesday of Week 2. I have a day off for marking, because of anti-government demonstrations. Praying for peace and no bloodshed. Only one day of lectures to go. It has been a whirlwind, but week 2 was good because of the smaller group and more time for discussions about how theology affects our preaching and teaching.

It has been sad this year to lose two former students – one of heart-failure earlier this year, and one of HIV-Aids just last week. We pray for God’s mercy and comfort and provision for their families, especially for the pastor who will sit his RCH exam this Friday, having lost his wife.

Appologies for lack of posts this year. 4 days of no internet at the lodge, combined with twice daily power cuts. The problem is apparently that the country relies on a single hydro-electric plant, which is aging and requires 6 months of maintenance.

But the courses are going well, and the reformation history students are ready for their exam tomorrow, after watching the Luther movie on friday, despite no power! The BT2 students have done well in their practice exams, looking forward to working more intensively with them this week.

Just finished day 2 – 6 hours of lecturing on Biblical theology and Reformation church history. It is amazing how relevant and applicable the struggles of the 16th century are to the Malawians. They are finding analogies to present church abuses and policitics and practices that I would never have imagined. And they are pleasantly outraged by how unbiblical the church can become.

We have about 40 students in church history, and 13 in biblical theology. Most have done several subjects before, so it is a comfortable process. Admin this year has also been a breeze with the discovery of a western-style printing shop with gleaming new photociers that churn out resources at a high quality and a low price.

The first week of lectures is already in full swing in Lilongwe. The plan for 2011 involves three lecturers, 5 subjects, and upwards of 50 students. It turns out that we’re actually teaching at the Anglican college again this year, not the AOG college, as it’s a cheaper facility.

For the first week, Rev Pete Stedman from Norwest Anglican Churches is lecturing Level 1 students on Doctrine and Level 2 students on New Testament 2 (Acts). In the second week, Jonny Gibson will arrive from Cambridge and take the Level 2 students for a week of Old Testament 2 (the former prophets). In the third week, the other two lecturers will head home, and I’ll take over with a third subject for the Level 2 students – Reformation Church History, and a second subject for the Level 1 students – Biblical Theology 2. It’s a complex schedule, and God-willing both lecturers and students will make it through.

Some late-breaking good news is that the Zimbabwean students received funding for transport from another Sydney church, and so they have arrived and are in the program. In the future we hope to expand the program into Zimbabwe, but for the moment it’s great that they can join this month-long intensive.

Your prayers for this years’ intensive are appreciated:

• Praise God for all the courses, teaching, and fellowship he has enabled over the past 4 years, 13 courses, and 250 students taught.
• Pray for all the lecturers as we travel and teach as ministers of the gospel.
• Commit the pastors to God in their studies, and pray for the churches and families they are leaving for the month.
• Ask God to supply African Enterprise with all their needs in organising the venue, printing materials, and communication with the pastors.