Interview with Rev Master Jumbe - Blantyre Synod Schools Chaplain
 Rev Master Jumbe, Synod Schools Chaplain
The following are notes from an interview with Rev Master Jumbe the Blantyre Synod Schools Chaplain
STRUCTURE - The Schools Chaplain has a link with two different departments - YOUTH and CHAPLAINCY. AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY - Schools (primary, secondary and tertiary education) Question (Q) – Blantyre Synod Website Editor Answer (A) – Rev Master Jumbe Q Where are you from? A Phalombe District Q Did you grow up under Mulanje Mountain? A yes, in Palombe Boma Q Where you there during the disaster in 1991? A No, in Blantyre. But we went to help friends and relatives. In fact some friends were lost. 500 or more died. Q Education A part primary in Mulanje and part Chileka. Went to St Patrick's secondary in 1991. A In 1995 went to Chancellor College, Zomba. Did BA in theology and philosophy Q After that A Taught at Chinamwali Private Sec School in Zomba A left there and started working with Kungoni Art Craft Centre in Dedza District, near lakeshore where the Mua Mission is. There for a year in 2001. A 2002 went to Zomba Theological College to do BD, graduating in 2004. A posted to Livilidzi Presbytery (Balaka) in 2004 A Youth Director - 2005 - 2006 A 2007 Presbytery Clerk A 2008 moved to Blantyre City where was Youth Director until 2011 A Chosen to be schools chaplain in Jan 2012 A Studying Masters in Theology through Mzuzu Q All that time since ZTC you had congregations? A yes Q Current Congregation A Mpachika CCAP, under Soche Hill Q How and when a Christian? A I was born a Christian! A both my parents were Christians A always accepted Christian message from the beginning. Q Why did you want to go into the ministry. When did you feel the call? A I have admired the pastoral ministry from my youth, from primary school. Perhaps this is because of the ministers I was exposed to then. Even at secondary school what was on my mind was to become a minister. A I asked Rev John Mann, from Ireland, when in form 1. He said just continue with your education. He encouraged me to work hard and continue with my education. Q Was there an area of the ministry you were called to and if so what? A I am happy to be the Schools Chaplain. Rev John Mann was the Schools Chaplain and he inspired me. I felt called to work with the youth A Also, while at Chancellor College I came up with the idea of CCAPSO with some others. A We asked ourselves 'Why can't we have an organisation to champion the doctrines of the CCAP?' A Happy to see that CCAPSO, starting with 6 people, is big. Q Were there problems with Christian meetings unaffiliated with an established Christian denomination? A Yes. People could come there who know nothing about the bible and start shouting and being a disruptive influence. A We are working hard to tackle the same issues. We want the young people to have sound doctrine and good teaching of the bible. Q Can you give an example of the kind of problematic teachings that occur among the youth who are unaffiliated with a mature and stable denomination like the CCAP? A example: teachings that lead people astray. A preoccupation with the devil. A sensationalist teachings about the devil and evil spirits that are not rooted in sound biblical teaching. A lack of emphasis on Jesus Christ. A teachings about illnesses and suffering. They teach that it is only through prayer that healing comes. They teach people to avoid modern medicine. A prayer that implies that after prayer everything will be fine. Take away the need for hard work at school Q Where do these teachings come from? A various churches where there is not proper theological education for those who go into the ministry. A many sources e.g. movies (Nigerian films). Q So, these things are relevant to your department? A yes, absolutely. Q How does Blantyre Synod respond and how does your department respond? A we work closely with CCAPSO. A teaching Christian doctrine A preach the Word of God to students A conduct devotional services A provide spiritual counseling for students facing different challenges A providing pastoral care A organising conferences in conjunction with CCAPSO A distributing literature when available A produce lectionary A evening services A encourage local ministers to conduct services in schools Q Is there a schools chaplain in every presbytery? A yes, and works with committee A those committee members help and oversee - make sure that each school has prayers and devotional services Q Is it an area that each presbytery takes seriously? A Yes. But is something started recently. Previously the emphasis was on Blantyre City. A Recently we have been pushing out to the whole synod. Q What is the approach to teaching with CCAPSO. A teaching from our reformed tradition. A teach the bible from a reformed perspective A HIV - for a long time the issue has been for the government, the church was talking about it so much. Now the church is addressing the issue more. A we teach against stigmatising those with HIV. Q How is the youth in Malawi changing? How do you summarise the youth in Malawi? A young people are strongly Christian in general. The problem is many strange teachings. Technology - films, internet are affecting what is going into the minds of young Christians. Thank you Rev. Jumbe. That was most interesting. |
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