Destination Malta

With their three children, Geoff and Robyn are serving with the Evangelical Baptist Church and the University Bible Group in Malta. On location at the ‘island paradise’ his family calls home, Geoff gives us an insider’s perspective on the Maltese church.

Which would you prefer: a luxury ocean liner, or a rubber dingy? Nine times out of ten, Maltese people would go for the luxury ocean liner. The Catholic church in Malta is very impressive, powerful and influential. And if you are Maltese, you are Catholic – there is no question. For Maltese people, to become a Bible-believing Christian is to succumb to some sort of mental illness.

There are five evangelical churches in Malta, and each church has between five and 20 regular members. A mega-church in Malta would have a total of 35 people. So being part of God’s church in Malta often feels like being stuck in a rubber dingy. Many Maltese Christians are under enormous pressure from their family, friends, and the local Catholic church to conform to Catholic religion and rituals.

It might sound unusual, but we all need to pray that Maltese Christians would stop moving to Australia and other places like it. The land down under is extremely attractive to Maltese Christians because it offers dynamic churches, youth groups, and Sunday schools.

However, there are lots of great reasons for Maltese Christians to stay in Malta. Like the Australian evangelical church, the church here preaches the gospel – though preachers are often more direct here. The singing is more passionate, and the Bible studies have more lively and heated discussion, because the Maltese love to express themselves in a dramatic way. The prayer times are more community-centred, because the Maltese have a stronger family and community spirit.

In the end, we are happy to be part of the evangelical church in Malta. I would rather be in a rubber dingy any day than a luxury ocean liner that has Titanic written on it. After all, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Late last year, a student called Daniel became a Christian through the ministry of the Uni Bible Group. He immediately began inviting his non-Christian friends to the weekly meetings on campus – and then this year, Daniel made a flyer to advertise an evangelistic dessert night (below).

“It was great to see Christ’s body at work at this event,” reported Geoff. “From the seven Christians in our Uni Bible Group, Daniel made the flyer, while some handed it out and others postered it around. On the night, some made dessert, others served coffee; some invited friends, others answered questions.”

The event didn’t finish until midnight, with 15 non-believers hearing the gospel and asking many great questions about God and the Bible. The Uni Bible Group is currently following up three students who are warm to Christianity.

Praise God that he is blessing Geoff and Robyn's ministry in Malta! Please pray that God would continue to grow the Uni Bible Group through students like Daniel, and ask God to give Geoff and his family wisdom and boldness as they encourage many Maltese people to turn to Jesus.