Five Malawians to Speak at Westminster College

Five Malawians will speak at Westminster College Monday, Sept. 25.

They will lead Chapel services at 11:40 a.m. in Wallace Memorial Chapel and will follow with an open lunch conversation at the Lakeview Room of the McKelvey Campus Center.

"Westminster joined the Malawi Partnership of the Pittsburgh Presbytery and has been sending students there every other year," said Carey Anne Meyer-LaSor, coordinator of the Young Presbyterian Scholars Program. "This year they will visit us."

"Malawi is among the poorest nations in the world. Those who go to college don't usually come back home," Meyer-LaSor said. "Our hope or dream is to one day establish a Westminster and Malawi partnership, where we could bring a Malawian student to Westminster for four years so that he or she would return home to use their Westminster education to help their nation."

"At Chapel, five young men and women will briefly share their testimonies and a bit about their church in Malawi," said the Rev. Katherine Day, pastor of the Mt. Pisgah Church in Green Tree. "I am the co-chair of the Pittsburgh Presbytery - Blantyre Synod Partnership, which is part of the Central church of Africa, Presbyterian (CCAP). It's the largest of the Malawian synods in the CCAP."

Speaking at Westminster are: Madaitso Ulemo Tina Qinisa Chongwe, Lucious Ofeni, Laureen Mputeni, and Cecilia Motima.

Last year the following Westminster students represented the Pittsburgh Synod and went to Malawi:

Bethel Park, PA
Heather Merry is a daughter of Daniel and Beth Merry. Merry, a freshman elementary education major, is a graduate of Bethel Park High School.
Daniel O'Keefe is a son of Terry and Vicki O'Keefe. O'Keefe, a junior biology major, is a graduate of Bethel Park High School.
Andrew Smith is a son of Joseph and Constance Smith. Smith, a sophomore physics major, is a graduate of Bethel Park High School.

Pittsburgh, PA
Sarah Geist is a daughter of Walter and Peggy Geist. Geist, a freshman business administration major, is a graduate of North Hills High School.

The events are free and open to the public. Contact Meyer-Lasor at (724) 946-7365 or e-mail meyerca@westminster.edu for more information.

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