Chingadza, Steven
Steven Chingadza is an International Global Mission Fellow with the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, engaged in a two-year term of service.
The Global Mission Fellows program takes young adults ages 20-30 out of their home environments and places them in new contexts for mission experience and service. The program has a strong emphasis on faith and justice. Global Mission Fellows become active parts of their new local communities. They connect the church in mission across cultural and geographical boundaries. They grow in personal and social holiness and become strong young leaders working to build just communities in a peaceful world.
Steven is a member of St. Michael’s and All Angels Presbyterian Church in Blantyre, Malawi. He is part of the praise team, where he plays bass guitar and keyboard. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resources management from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi.
Describing himself as a born-again Christian, Steven said he studies the Bible, prays daily and strives to live in peace with everyone. These, he added, are the basic principles that make one grow spiritually.
“I trust God in everything,” he said. “My faith and experiences both target transformation in the physical, as well as in the spiritual, being. Going deeper into my faith, it is evident that I stand to proclaim the gospel for the salvation, shelter, nurture and spiritual fellowship of the children of God.” His faith, Steven added, “promotes divine worship, preservation of the truth, promotion of social righteousness and well-being.” This, he said, requires him to worship God and live morally right before God and humanity.
Steven is excited about becoming a Global Mission Fellow.
“The heart to connect and interact with different people of different socioeconomic status, culture and religion,” he said, “motivated me to apply for this program. I have been in direct contact with local people in different communities.” In Mulanje, he advised communities on ways to conserve their forests, such as patrolling to track the rate of deforestation and management to prevent fires from degrading the forests. He also distributed seeds, helped in tree nursery supervision, conducted follow-up visits and collected data by observation.
In Lowershire, Chikwawa and Nsanje, he interned in the weather public relations office of the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services. “It was almost the onset of rainy season,” Steven recalled. “It is the Weather Department’s mandate to mobilize communities and sensitize them on climate-change issues. This includes conducting seasonal weather-forecast dissemination campaigns using the Participatory Scenario Planning Approach, a valuable knowledge-sharing platform. They plan in advance against disastrous effects of the rainy season; thereby, protecting their own life and property.
“I will add to the core values of Global Mission Fellows,” he said, “since one is to engage local communities, serve alongside different compositions of the community and do ministry with them.”
Steven is especially fond of music. “Since 2007,” he said, “I have been involved in learning and playing musical instruments such as guitar and keyboard.” He and his friends formed a band. He believes in investing in children and youth through teaching.
“Any art,” he declared, “prospers when passions start at an early age.”