A Flourishing Garden

Arnold’s church began doing small Acts of Love as they studied TCT. When the village headman saw their good work, he donated a plot of land to the church. The church used the land to start a vegetable garden, which God caused to flourish. As of today, fifty-two church members maintain the garden, along with twenty vulnerable families–many of whom have also joined the church. 

Through the garden, vulnerable families can have improved diets by eating vegetables and can learn useful skills. The church members also eat the vegetables, and there is less sickness among them now. The rest of the produce is sold, and the money is used for ministry–including other Acts of Love. 

Outreach to neighboring villages

The church was not content with improving just their own lives.

As they understood that their purpose was to glorify God and build His kingdom, the church was not content with improving just their own lives. They began going to the neighboring villages to do Acts of Love for the elderly, widows, and orphans—working in their gardens, re-roofing houses, harvesting their fields, washing their clothes, and fetching firewood. In each village, people have accepted the gospel after experiencing God’s love in these practical ways, and new churches have been planted. For each new church, they’ve constructed a building with earnings from the vegetable garden and begun wholistically discipling the new believers. 

Dreaming of More

Where they used to live day-by-day with little hope that things could change, God’s people now have vision for the future. They are praying for a bored well and solar panels so they can irrigate their garden and increase their harvest. God put the border region near Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania on their hearts. So they have appointed a missionary to that area–paying his transportation and full support for one year out of funds from the vegetable garden project. 

Where churches apply what they learn in the program, we always see physical, social, and spiritual transformation.

TCT is not a church-planting program or an agriculture project. We simply bring wholistic discipleship to churches–helping them to understand God’s concern for every area of life and His command to show His love to the most vulnerable. We don’t typically see this many churches planted but, where churches apply what they learn in the program, we always see physical, social, and spiritual transformation. Pastor Arnold’s story is one example of God’s incredible faithfulness as His people walk in obedience.