After twenty years of preaching, one Bible school student made a confession that Charles Banda will never forget:
“I need to go back and correct some of the lessons I taught.”
For Charles, the statement was not an admission of failure. It was evidence of humility and a reminder that faithful servants of God never stop learning. It also affirmed why reopening a Bible school in Malawi had become one of the most meaningful ministries of his life.
After graduating from African Christian College in 2024, Charles returned to Malawi with a desire to serve the Church. As he worked alongside evangelists across the region, he noticed that many were deeply committed to sharing the gospel but had never received formal biblical training.
“Many evangelists were eager and passionate about preaching the word of God, but they felt inferior or not equipped enough,” he says.
Rather than accepting the situation, Charles joined other church leaders to look for a solution. Their search uncovered an opportunity that had long been forgotten. A Bible school in Mponela, Dowa District, had once equipped preachers but had closed because of a lack of funding.
Together with churches in the region, they committed themselves to reopening it.
Finding a sustainable model, however, was no easy task.
“One of the biggest challenges was crafting ways to open the Bible school in cost effective ways, but still maximise our reach.”
Instead of asking students to travel long distances, they decided the teachers would travel to different communities. The approach reduced costs, made training accessible to more people, and allowed churches across the region to benefit from biblical education.
The impact soon became evident.
The student who reflected on twenty years of preaching was one example of how the school was transforming lives. His willingness to revisit what he had taught reminded Charles that God’s grace is not only seen in forgiveness but also in the opportunity to keep growing in truth.
What began as the reopening of a single Bible school has since expanded into three village Bible schools that have trained more than 500 preachers for ministry.
Charles’s journey reflects the kind of servant leadership African Christian College seeks to cultivate. His education equipped him not only to preach but also to recognize a need, bring churches together, and develop a practical solution that continues to strengthen the church in Malawi.
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