Pray for Madagascar

Madagascar is the world’s 4th largest island with a reported population

of around 23 million. The large majority of these are subsistence

farmers growing rice and other crops.

There is evidence of increasing affluence amongst certain sectors of

the population and the capital, Antananarivo, now has its share of

stylish shopping centres and restaurants and many new and luxury

4x4s are seen on the road. In contrast to this, many people in the

towns live in ramshackle houses and struggle to find food on a daily

basis.

The ring-tailed lemur is one of over 100 known

species and subspecies of lemur found only in

Madagascar.

Political stability

Political instability has led to an increasing gap

between rich and poor.

It was hoped the election of a new president early in

2014, bringing to an end the transition government

established following the coup in 2009, would bring

greater political stability and a solution to some of the

economic problems, corruption and crime, but so far

this has not been the case and there is much

uncertainty about the stability of the current

government.

Hery Rajaonarimampianina is a Malagasy politician who has been president

of Madagascar since January 2014

Antananarivo is the political and economic capital of Madagascar.

Malagasy people are very religious and many people go to church on

Sunday morning, but sadly much of this is nominal religion. Catholic,

traditional Protestant (Lutheran, FJKM – Malagasy church of Jesus Christ)

are largely formal in their practice and have no qualms about mixing

Christian practice with elements of ancestor worship, which is sometimes

justified as simply being a means of showing respect to their deceased

family members, but is more about seeking blessing from them.

There are undoubtedly some true believers amongst these churches who

would not participate in such practices, but rather than leaving to attend

Bible-based churches, these individuals tend to find fellowship through

para-church organisations such as Christian unions, which thrive not only

amongst students, but amongst professionals and other working adults

and many are converted through such groups.

The island's iconic traveller's palm (ravinala) features in the national emblem.

There are various evangelical groups as well as Pentecostal and

charismatic churches which vary significantly, some being mainline

in their gospel teaching, whilst others are proponents of false

doctrines such as the prosperity gospel.

The CEIM church (Independent Evangelical Community of

Madagascar)’ established about 25 years ago in association with

French brethren assemblies, is one of the main evangelical groups

and are strong on evangelism and church planting as well as

seeking to train pastors and church leaders through their seminary.

Bible Baptist churchesThe Bible Baptist churches have sometimes been criticised for a

lack of vision in evangelism, but while this may be true of some of the

bigger, more established churches, many of the churches belonging to

this association are very active in evangelism and church planting.

There are now 153 Bible Baptist churches, some small and in remote

areas.

The Baptist Association has a strong tradition of seeking to hold firm to

biblical truth and to implement this in church practice. To this end the

Bible Baptist seminary exists to train men that they may be better

equipped to teach and train others. For those men unable to follow the

three-year theological course in Antsirabe (a small town 150km south

of the capital) there is training in 9 different regions which usually

takes place in monthly blocks three times a year. With so many false

teachings and sects around, it is vitally important that church leaders

are able to help others discern what is biblical and what is not.

One of the rural Bible Baptist churches: the believers have little materially but sing and pray with

all their heart

Current seminary students

Good News Hospital in MandritsaraOne of the major projects under the auspices of the Baptist

church is the Good News Hospital in Mandritsara. This

hospital has just celebrated its 20th anniversary and through

this work many have received medical and surgical care, but

more importantly many have come to faith in Christ, through

the witness of those who work in the hospital, and many

churches have been established in surrounding villages. There

are several smaller projects in other areas of the country,

seeking to share the gospel, teach and train leaders as well as

showing the love of Christ through practical care.

Bible translation

Welsh missionaries wrote down the Malagasy language and

translated the Bible between 1818-1835.

This translation has been updated, but there are 18 ethnic groups in

Madagascar, many of whom are largely unreached and some of the

dialects are very different to the official Malagasy, making Bible

reading difficult for them. In addition adult literacy is low – official

figures say 60%, but it may be much lower. Some work has been

done seeking to translate the Bible into other dialects, but there is

still much work to be done in this area and this needs to be coupled

with an emphasis on teaching literacy.

Pray for Madagascar Political stability – effective measures to deal with corruption and poverty

Advance of the true gospel

Challenges – nominalism and syncretism

Protection against cults – Mormonism is particularly prevalent and JW’s

Training of Pastors/church leaders. Great need for teachers and students so pray the Lord would raise up more godly men able to preach the gospel and teach others.

Good News Hospital Mandritsara- staff, funding, ongoing evangelism & church work.

Unity and cooperation between true believers and Bible-based churches: Satan always wants to attack the Lord’s work by causing division. No church group is perfect and all projects are liable to attack so this is an important area for prayer.

Bible translation projects

Unreached people groups – many live in rural communities not easily accessible

Mission groups working in Madagascar: SIM, AIM, Southern Baptists – main emphasis of such missions now is usually on unreached people groups and training Bible teachers