MUTHARIKA HOLD TALKS WITH FAITH LEADERS

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has said the country can fully develop only if the citizenry embrace the doctrine of hope and faith in their daily endeavors.

Mutharika said this on Thursday at Kamuzu Palace when he hosted officials from Malawi Council of Churches who paid him a courtesy call.

In his speech, Mutharika commended the faith grouping for visiting him saying though he is Head of State, he is human and needs spiritual guidance time and again.

“The mutual support that exists between Church and government in this country is very encouraging because we share a common cause of serving God’s people. Every day, everywhere, the Church is feeding the hungry, healing the sick, sheltering the homeless, educating our children, and fortifying the faith that sustains so many,” he said.

He added, “The church keeps reminding us our duty for humankind to inspire our friends while serving them with compassion and appreciation for the marginalized, the outcast and the suffering”

Mutharika emphasized the need for the church to preach love among Malawians not sowing seeds of hate as is the case with some individuals within the faith community.

“I believe we cannot build a nation with hate but with love for one another, and love for this country. In this country, there are those who believe in fuelling a campaign of hate against the President in order to undermine an elected government. I urge you to take it as your mission to remind us of the costs of planting seeds of disunity,” he said.

The Malawi leader asked the church to use the doctrine of faith to challenge and provoke Malawians of their capabilities in developing the nation through hard work and persistence.

Malawi Council of Churches is an umbrella organization for close to 25 Christian churches and some 20 para-church organizations in Malawi.