Prodigal Church in Fresno, California, seeks to meet people’s needs where they are, whether down the street or in Africa. Since the church began in 2017, it welcomes people from multiple backgrounds through its doors and for the last three years sends the same love and assistance through its Love the World auction to ministries in Malawi, Africa.
Lead pastor John Richardson first became involved with ministry in Malawi at age 19 while serving with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Since then, he’s returned eight times and spread the passion for the ministry to Prodigal Church to help fund local YWAM missionaries and ministries within orphanages, schools and towns.
“Prodigal has given to the ministries in Malawi for as long as it has existed, but a few years ago we realized we needed a new way to make sure we could consistently give generously to the needs there even when our church budget was tight,” Richardson says. “We came up with the Love the World auction where the event is designed solely to raise funds for the ministry in Malawi.”
The auction is a church-wide event, open to the public and planned by a committee. The event includes a theme, meal and live and silent auctions. Items to auction are often made by church members or donated by local businesses. This year’s safari theme auction is set for March 7.
“The committee does a lot of work, but it gives a lot of impact both globally and locally,” Richardson says. “Typically, over 100 people come to our auction; 60-70 percent of those being from our church. It’s been really incredible to see how more than a few people who came to the auction started coming to church also, so it is encouraging to see that two-fold benefit of the auction.”
In addition to providing funding, Prodigal Church will serve in a hands-on way this summer by taking its first mission team to Malawi, led by children’s pastor Brittney Howard.
“This will bring more context to the ministry there,” Howard says. “It’s one thing to support a ministry financially, but to see, touch and listen to lives there is a whole new world. We are excited to go with a heart of mission that isn’t focused on numbers, but one that genuinely loves the people there and shows them the love of Jesus by listening, serving and doing.”
Howard says that the work the team will be doing in Malawi will likely be in the orphanages, schools, churches and local outreach that Prodigal’s auction supports.
Both locally and abroad, Prodigal Church’s mission is the same.
“The heart of Prodigal Church is to be like in the story of the prodigal son and realize we can miss Jesus with a rebellious or religious heart,” Richardson says. “Jesus invites everyone to the party, and we seek to model that by inviting everyone, calling out the rebellious and religious and ultimately showing them the love of Jesus.”
Caitlyn Decker is a 2021 graduate of Northwestern Oklahoma State University, having majored in agriculture with a minor in mass communications. Beginning in high school, Decker has written for local newspapers, small businesses, the university campus newspaper and public relations office as well as freelancing. She and her husband, Caleb, live on a farm near New Hopedale Mennonite Church, Meno, Oklahoma, where they are members. They also serve as youth group sponsors.
