All roads lead to Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe today as the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church] is expected to wrap up its month-long comprehensive revival meetings, dubbed Saturation 2017 crusade.

The evangelism crusade started on September 3 this year and is poised to culminate into a mega baptism feast right at the stadium, according to the church leadership, following 28 days of inspiring sermons by veteran evangelist Tony Yoramu-Nyirenda. The crusade, that was also addressing some topical issues like health, finances, and enhancing social relations were also beamed live on various leading television and radio stations across the country.

President of the church responsible for the central region [Central Malawi Conference] Pastor John Phiri confirmed of the baptism right at the venue where he said the “first fruits would also be welcomed into the fold.” The Pastor reiterated that the stadium was an ideal venue, despite being costly, arguing it would now mostly host those from the remotest areas across the region where the church had been running satellite centres where the sermons were being beamed live.

“These are people who have chosen to fellowship with the Lord through the various messages of end time truths dished out during the month. As can be testified from various sectors of the public, this was more of a revival; knowing that the challenge of taking the gospel to the world is not new.

“As a matter of fact, the disciples first faced this challenge in the first century and as modern day Christians; we face it in the twenty-first century. We focused on preaching Jesus Christ with an aim of making Him known to the nations, incorporating that with some key elements of a true revival that include fervent prayer, Bible study and witness.” He said.

Phiri also argued that the world would have been a better place to be with less social ills were the Christian to unite in uplifting God’s name instead of seeking individual gratification. “We could, and still can learn from the early church whereby putting all their differences, all desire for supremacy, the disciples came close together in Christian fellowship with sadness filling their hearts as they each thought how many times they had aggrieved God by their slowness of comprehension, their failure to understand His lessons that, for their good, Jesus was trying to teach them.” He said.

The meetings, themed Yesu Akubweradi posachedwa, saw various high profile dignitaries attend in between with First Lady Getrude Mutharika gracing them last week. Her visit was quickly followed by Vice President Saulos Chilima who attended the last but two daily lessons. Both the political figureheads took time to court the general public to keenly follow the proceedings at the revival meetings that are beamed live on major Television stations from 6pm daily; with the First Lady arguing that a prayerful nation was key to prosperity as religion has the power to foster peace and stability.

The revivals were in line with Revival and reformation concept, which is said to be one of the key pillars on which the church was founded.

The mega evangelism campaigns are the first to be held by any denomination in the country since the sports facility opened its doors early this year.