Apostle Kawinga said this in Thyolo on Tuesday when his church donated 3, 000 bags of maize, bibles and other relief items costing over K40 million in Traditional Authority Ngomano.

In a relief and evangelism programme, the church is targeting 9, 000 hunger affected households in Thyolo, Mulanje, Phalombe and Chikwawa with over a K70 million budget.

According to the cleric, as the world is facing socio-economic challenges, the religious institutions need to also touch lives holistically.

"We are going through a lot as a country and also at the global level where there is economic crisis. As such, church leaders and Christians need to take responsibility to fill those gaps which are there. This is the reason we have donated 3000 bags of maize to the needy," Apostle Kawinga said.

He added: "We cannot minister to the people who are weak with hunger. God gave us His son Jesus so we cannot apart giving and the love of God to people."

Traditional Authority Ngomano says his area is severely hit with hunger, calling on others to come in.

"I have been asking for help from various quarters but to no avail. So this donation will go along way because some weeks ago I saw some people who are malnourished due to lack of food. I can relate this situation to the much taunted hunger of 1949," he said.

A 69-year-old granny, Elina Peterson of Mankhamba 1 village has described the donation as a relief since she has on many occasions prepared pumpkin leaves to fend her four orphans.

The church leader cum-business tycoon has also donated holy bibles to the chiefs.