“CALL OUT TO CHRIST IN TIMES OF TROUBLE” BISHOP MTUMBUKA URGES FAITHFUL AT NEW KARONGA CHURCH BLESSING
By Noel Chatepa
Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga has encouraged Christians to call out to Christ in times of trouble. The Bishop shared these words of encouragement on 9th August 2026 during the opening and blessing of the newly built St. Susan Outstation Church in Masukira, under St. Stephen’s Parish, Karonga.
In his homily, the Bishop referred to the day’s reading, which recounted how Peter, upon seeing Jesus walking on water, asked to walk on water as his master was doing. The Bishop explained that in ancient times, water was considered both a good and a fearsome thing, believed to hold demonic and evil spirits. Jesus’ act of walking on water, he said, symbolized His power over these evil forces.
Secondly, the Bishop noted that one of the key lessons from this passage is about Peter’s faith. Peter began walking on water in faith, but once he doubted, he started sinking in the same water that had held him up. The Bishop explained that this mirrors what happens in life when a person begins walking in faith with Christ, they often encounter difficulties along the way.
“In the Bible, when he started drowning, Peter called out to Jesus to save him. I therefore pose a question to you; when you face problems in your life, who do you call out to, or turn to, for help? Do you call out to Christ as Peter did, or do you rely on your own strength to save yourself?” asked the Bishop. He encouraged the congregation to always call on Christ for help when facing challenges in their faith, marriages, or work, just as Peter did.
The Bishop also addressed the priests and religious present, drawing attention to the second reading of the day, which underscored the urgency of reaching out to those who no longer pray, those who have lost their way and and have drifted from the sacraments. “Let us not focus only on the Christians who are faithful, but also on those who are not in good standing with their faith. We must remember that if a Christian dies without being reconciled with Christ and the Church, that person faces eternal damnation. Let us think of those who have lost their way and bring them back to Christ,” said Bishop Mtumbuka.
The newly built church was funded by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), with additional local contributions from the Christian community in the form of bricks, cash and kind.