For the first year of its partnership with Malawi, the Kalamazoo Corps will be supporting a building project in Nkhata Bay, a city on the coast of Lake Malawi.
The Nkhata Bay Corps began as a small outpost. Many town members were wary of The Salvation Army. Several people believed the Army to be a cult because of its war-like nuances and the phrase "Blood and Fire". However, several other people took an interest in the Army and became soldiers and members of the Army. In 2008, a Summer Mission Team from the USA Central Territory spent three days in Nkhata Bay, leading meetings and a music camp for children. After their visit, the Nkhata Bay Corps saw a surge of interest in The Salvation Army and a significant increase in the number of soldiers.
Today, the Nkhata Bay Corps is led by Captains Mbewe, with a congregation of over 20 soldiers. The community is more open towards The Salvation Army, but considers it a temporary organization, since it rents space and has no permanent facility. The building project will give the Nkhata Bay Corps that permanent facility and tell the community that The Salvation Army is there to stay and is invested in the community for the long-term.
The project will cost approximately $40,000. Property for the corps building has already been purchased and construction can begin soon. The greatest cost of the project will be in purchasing the cement for the bricks, any concrete flooring, and the construction of a roof. Bricks will be hand-made and baked by the corps members. The project should be completed by December 2009.