St. John's Welcomes African Bishop!

St. John's welcomes back Bishop Jackson Biggers, SSC, retired Diocesan Bishop of Northern Malawi (central Africa) and now assistant to Archbishop Bernard Malango of the Diocese of the Upper Shire (Malawi).

Bishop Biggers is a native of Mississippi, graduating with a bachelors degree from the University of Mississippi and his theological degree from The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.
After serving as a curate, then Father Biggers was a missionary to Malawi. He was expelled from the country in 1975 when the democratically elected government was overthrown through a military coup. He then served on the U.S. Presiding Bishop John Allin's staff and then as Rector of The Church of the Redeemer, Biloxi, Mississippi, for 14 years.
In 1994 a new government was installed in Malawi, and when the new diocese of Northern Malawi was formed, Bishop Biggers was chosen her first bishop.

For many years St. John's has been supporting the work of the Church in Northern Malawi through the connections of Frs. Kelly and Bedford and their common membership in the Society of the Holy Cross (SSC) with the Bishop.
The Anglican Church in Malawi faces many challenges due to economic hardship and famine. But while diocesan Bishop Biggers confirmed at least 100 people per week, a sign of the growth given by our Lord to His Church for their faithful witness!
(photo above - Bishop Biggers conducting a retreat in 2005: photo below, the bishop and my son sharing an article on model rocketry)