Interpreting God’s Protection through a Dynamic Faith Partnership

This article examines how Christians in a faith partnership between Malawi and Scotland sought and defined God’s protection as they responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Malawi and Scotland have different cultures, societies and economic prosperity but a shared Presbyterian history, and long-standing faith partnerships through the two national churches. Qualitative interviews articulate striking comparisons of expectations of God’s protection when confronting global disease. This research shows how the dynamics of this partnership allowed both member churches to contribute to each other’s needs and hold a critical solidarity in each other’s interpretation of God’s protection.