Celebrating five years of our music ministry, which started as a small choir and has grown into a vibrant community of worship.

Before there was a training center, there was a choir. New Hope Ministries began in 2021 as a small music ministry, with a handful of voices gathering to worship and share hope through song. Five years later, that ministry has grown into something beautiful—a vibrant community of musicians serving churches across Lilongwe.

Humble Beginnings

In early 2021, Blessings E. Kwenda gathered a few friends to form a choir at a local church. They had no instruments, no rehearsal space, and no money. What they had was passion and faith.

"We would meet under a tree to practice," Blessings recalls. "We had no microphone, no keyboard—just our voices. But when we sang, you could feel something special. People would stop and listen. We knew God was doing something."

Growing the Ministry

Word of the choir spread, and soon they were invited to sing at other churches. More people wanted to join. They acquired a keyboard, then a few guitars. What started as a single choir grew into multiple ensembles—youth choir, children's choir, men's chorus, women's chorus, and an instrumental group.

"We realized that music was more than just singing. It was a way to bring people together, to heal, to hope. The ministry became a community."

The Birth of NHTCA

As the music ministry grew, Blessings noticed something: many of the choir members lacked skills to support themselves. They could sing beautifully, but they struggled to find work. That observation planted the seed for New Hope Training Centre for All.

"I realized that we needed to do more than feed people spiritually. We needed to help them feed themselves physically. That's when the vision for a training center began to form."

Music Ministry Today

Today, the music ministry includes over 150 members across 7 choirs and ensembles. They lead worship at multiple churches, perform at community events, and have even recorded their first album. The ministry has become a training ground for musicians, with free lessons in voice, keyboard, and guitar.

"Music is still at the heart of everything we do," says Mdziwenji Mazinga, current music ministry leader. "Every training session, every graduation—we begin with song. It reminds us why we started and Who we serve."

Weekly Schedule

The music ministry rehearses weekly:

  • Sunday: Main Choir (9am) & Instrumental (3pm)
  • Monday: Youth Choir (6pm)
  • Tuesday: Music Theory Class (5pm)
  • Wednesday: Band Practice (6pm)
  • Thursday: Children's Choir (4pm)
  • Friday: Vespers Preparation (5pm)
  • Sabbath: Divine Service (9am) & Sabbath School (11am)

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate five years, we're looking ahead to the future. Plans include recording more music, starting a music school for young people, and taking our ministry on tour to share hope through song across Malawi.

"Five years ago, we sang under a tree," Blessings reflects. "Now we have a music room, instruments, and hundreds of voices. I can't wait to see what the next five years bring."

If you'd like to join our music ministry, rehearsals are open to all. Come make a joyful noise with us.