A Dangerous Trip
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40
Jay and I recently returned from Malawi, where we had the profound joy of celebrating a major milestone: the graduation of the 100th college student from our Peachtree Church sponsorship program—an initiative launched 14 years ago.
Bill and Dana Tucker, longtime Peachtree members, joined us for this incredible moment. They have faithfully supported Peter Mtambo from high school all the way through his college graduation at Mzuzu University.
To date, Peachtree families have supported:
101 college graduates
90 technical school graduates
605 high school graduates
These students have become teachers, nurses, solar technicians, IT professionals, and more. Even more inspiring? Many of them have returned to their home district of Chitipa to serve and lead, helping transform their families and communities.
Where It All Began
Since we returned home, many have asked how this journey started. Jay tells the story in Chapter Eight of Breathless Haste: Finding God in Ordinary Life, but here’s a glimpse:
Before Jay’s first trip to Malawi—then with his former church in Chicago—he participated in a meal-packing event for Africa. When he mentioned to a leader of the event that he would soon travel to Malawi, the man responded:
“That’s a dangerous trip.”
Jay shared that he had all his vaccinations.
The man shook his head and said, “It’s dangerous because you’ll never be able to get those kids out of your mind.”
Truer words were never spoken.
Jay’s first visit took him to Chitipa, a rural district in northern Malawi. As their small plane landed at sunset on a dirt airstrip, hundreds of children ran to greet them. These were the children the man had spoken of—children whose joyful spirits would forever stay in Jay’s heart.
Even amidst great poverty, they radiated happiness. Kids laughed as they rolled tires down dusty roads or kicked soccer balls fashioned from plastic bags and banana fibers. Many wore tattered clothes and were barefoot, yet their joy was unmistakable.
On a second trip to Malawi, Jay helped train local pastors and met a gifted young interpreter who had finished high school but couldn’t afford college. Jay and another family stepped in to cover his tuition. That act of generosity was the seed that grew into the sponsorship program.
After moving to Atlanta and becoming the Mission Pastor at Peachtree Church, Jay began to dream about what could be next. With the help of generous families, that dream took root—and grew.
The Cost of Sponsorship
Students in Malawi go to school for free until 8th grade. The average Malawian earns less than $1/day, so it’s not possible for most families to be able to send their children to high school. Here’s what it costs to sponsor a student:
High School: $400/year
Technical School: $1,000/year
College: $2,500/year
Sponsorship isn’t just about education—it’s about transformation. One student’s success can lift an entire family and ripple through their community. And often, it changes the hearts of sponsors too.
Be Part of the Next Chapter
If you’re interested in joining this life-changing effort, please reach out to me directly, and I’ll introduce you to Nancy Ike, who oversees the program at Peachtree Church.
Let’s keep changing lives—one student at a time.