About us
Our mission
Our deepest mission is expressed in this text from Matthew 28: 19 and 20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
Evangelism
The greatest desire and purpose is to spread God’s Word through evangelism so that His Kingdom may be expanded. The Gospel of Christ must be spread. This is therefore our main goal. The foundation wants to support the local APC municipalities in Malawi. Many elderly people, children and families there are in need of the message of the Gospel.
Biblical leadership teaching
Our second goal is Biblical leadership education. Many pastors, elders and church leaders of the APC congregations in Malawi lack Biblical education. Many of the church leaders previously did not even have a Bible. That is why a theological training has been started; at the mission center on the site in Chadzunda, a group of men is taught once every two weeks. The desire is for God to call from this group of men to serve in His vineyard. For more information, see: Projects – mission center training
Aid
After all, Bethábara Malawi’s goal is to improve the standard of living in Malawi by providing assistance where needed. We hope to teach the Malawians sustainable living, in church, family and community. Our main goal is the spread of the Gospel, our desire is that it follows that life in all facets is arranged according to God’s Word.
Evangelist in Malawi
Richard and his wife Trijnie along with 9 children have been living in Malawi since september 2021. Sent out of the congregation of Bethábara Holland, with the calling of evangelist, Richard’s primary focus is evangelism amongst the villages serving various church bodies including the (APC) Associated Presbyterian Church. The APC has over 20 churches established since 2015 in less developed regions of Malawi.
In March 2019, from his home country Canada, Richard visited Malawi for ten days from a call of the APC leadership to “come over and help”. Responding to this call he realized the great need for evangelical gospel teaching in the conviction of total depravity of man and total salvation in Christ being justified by grace through faith. In Richard’s heart was a strong emphasis from Luke 14:23 “Compel them to come in that my house may be filled” and he had a call to the ministry from an early age. Through the grace and guidance of the Lord and with the help of the congregation in Holland he was able to leave things behind and follow this call to Malawi with his family. He could only do this through the mercies and tender love of his Master, Who gave the promise and commission: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
In september 2021 Richard arrived with his family to begin this work. Richard & Trijnie came to Malawi with their 8 children, 5 girls and 3 boys, and in april 2022 another boy was added to their family here in Malawi.
Though life is much different here, the family does enjoy the country and have made it their home by the grace of God. Richard’s focus is on evangelism currently amongst more than 30 villages mostly consisting of small churches or gatherings of between 20 and 80 villagers. Additionally, a “Stewardship” training course for men is administered at the Bethábara Mission Center where leaders of the churches are brought together for Biblical instruction. There is also a small sustainable farm developed to help the costs for the “Stewardship” training course. Richard’s longing desire is that the Holy Spirit would be richly poured out amongst the villages in Malawi, that Christ the King might be exalted amongst this nation and fruits of repentance and regeneration to the honour and glory of the Father would be brought before His holy throne.
To contact the evangelist: richard@overbeek.ca
The foundation
About Bethábara Malawi
Bethábara Malawi is located in Chadzunda, Malawi and is not affiliated with any denominational denomination, but the Evangelist on site has been sent out from the Bethábara congregation in the Netherlands. The foundation was established in 2021 with the aim of spreading the Gospel to the people of Malawi through evangelism, education and aid. Our main goal is evangelism by spreading God’s Word.
Bethábara Malawi has a Baptist background, and its foundations are anchored in the apostolic truths according to the Scriptures. Bethabara means “House of the Passage”. It is the place where John preached and baptized (John 1:28). There it sounded: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Bethabara is also the place where, according to the Jewish interpreters, Joshua led the nation of Israel across the Jordan to the promised land (Joshua 3:16). So at this place the Ark stood in the Jordan to hold back the water and give the people of Israel passage. Bethabara, then, is a place of passage where souls are to be inflicted and the people are to be prepared for entry into Canaan.
The work in and around the mission center
In Chadzunda, Bethábara Malawi has a piece of land of about 2 hectares, on which a mission center has been built. This is where most of the missionary work takes place, such as training for church leaders. But there are also weekly English-language services. Near the mission center is a farm. The proceeds are used to pay for the work in the mission center, but also to support Malawians to learn to live sustainably, both in church, family and in the community. In addition to the work in the mission center, the local Evangelist, Richard Overbeek, goes out twice a week to spread the Word in the surrounding villages. More than 30 municipalities are now affiliated with Bethábara Malawi.
The commission in the Netherlands
The organizational structure includes an evangelist and at the same time a mission director in Malawi and many employees who help with the structural governance on the ground. For accountability and support, a group of people in the Netherlands forms a committee, with a chairman, treasurer, secretary, someone who is in charge of PR duties and others to support the various programs and funding initiatives for our cause.
Our logo
The logo consists of the flag of Malawi, and God’s Word as the source and main focus for the work that is done in Malawi. It’s our desire that the Sun of Righteousness may rise in many hearts.
Board names and functions
Geerco Evera (Chairman)
Anneke Westerbroek (secretary)
Gerrit van Aken (treasurer, fundraiser)
Marileen Innemee (board member)
Ewout Schokker (board member)
Bart Zwoferink (board member)
According to Article 5.3 of the Articles of Association, the above persons do not receive any remuneration for their activities.
ANBI (PBO) status
Chamber of Commerce number: 84549467
RSIN number: 863255450
Bank account number: On request from Rabobank
ANBI (PBO) status: Yes
Download the Articles of Association (in Dutch)
Download the policy plan (in Dutch)
Financial insight
Annual reports will be published here.
Contact
Stichting Bethabara Malawi
KvK : 84549467
RSIN : 863255450
Email evangelist: richard@overbeek.ca
Email foundation Bethábara Malawi: info@bethabara-mission.com