Sandram Phiri will be working as a Pastoral Intern alongside Confex Makhalira in their church plant efforts in Blantyre, Malawi
My name is Sandram. I was born in a family of 6 boys to my mother and father and I am the fifth born. I was raised by Christian parents, and my father continues to preach as an evangelist to this day. We used to go to Sunday school along with my brothers. And as I grew, I began to know that there is a God. Though I did not fully understand clearly what that knowledge meant, I had a sense of belonging and that helped to shape my behavior.
In my early years, I used to think that if I behaved well then God would be pleased with me. I used to get that a lot from many teachings and I thought I could make my way up to heaven by being a good boy at home and to my friends. In 2002, however, during my final year of primary school, I went to a Bible Club as usual for the school prayers. That day one of the teachers preached on Daniel 4. He emphasized that without Jesus there is no salvation. He pointed out that being well mannered will not save anyone but only by yielding to the salvation of Jesus. The Holy Spirit convicted me that day, and I gave my life to Jesus.
I have been growing in faith since then and God has shown me various ways of serving him. I have had the opportunity to lead my fellow youth group in Bible study groups. I also felt that God wanted me to preach His word a while ago and by his grace, I have been able to share my testimony and preach his word in different areas of Malawi. It is with that urge that I felt the need to learn and grow more in God’s word that I went and studied at African Bible College from 2008-2012.
Since 2013 I have been working with E3 Worldwide Ministry out in the rural area of Dowa. God has continued to bring me to the end of myself and taught me the need to grow more so that I serve him effectively. I have been coaching a soccer team called Jidi FC and I use Sports to reach out to the people in this area. Last year I attended an intensive training in Cape Town for 3 months of Christian community transformation at the Institute for Transformational Leadership (ITL/ALICT).
For me MRN presents an opportunity for growth and excavation of the real reason God gave me the gifts I have. I have felt more and more compelled to use these gifts to bring people into the church and disciple them.
I am eager to learn the true teaching and servant-leadership that MRN stands for. I also wait to grow in the teaching of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ centered upon His grace alone. Above all, I seek to serve Jesus more in the church.
