wfn.org | Synod of Northeast joins Hands with Madagascar Denomination

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

GA99107 
25-June-1999 
 
                  Synod of Northeast joins Hands 
                   with Madagascar Denomination 
 
FORT WORTH-A church in an island republic in the Indian Ocean off the 
southeast coast of Africa and the Synod of the Northeast have something in 
common--a partnership to do mission together. 
     The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, a Reformed denomination born 
of 19th century mission efforts, is now at 2.5 million members and growing. 
     The Rev. Edmond Razafimahefa (accent on the second syllable), 
president of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, is present at the 
211th General Assembly to learn about this denomination and to meet people, 
especially from the Synod of the Northeast.  Elder Charles Kim, who was a 
candidate for moderator of this Assembly and is a member of the Synod of 
Northeast partnership committee, and Jon Chapman, coordinator for southern 
and east Africa for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), were showing 
Razafimahefa around. 
     Details of the roles of each member of the partnership are yet to be 
decided.  The PCUSA has had a relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ 
in Madagascar since the mid 1950s and has health, educational and 
evangelistic missionaries there with some facilities. 
     The synod will support that work with prayers, finances and material. 
The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar will bring to the synod "their 
sense of personal witness to Jesus Christ," Chapman said.  "People will 
witness to what Jesus Christ is doing in their lives and the life of the 
church." 
     Razafimahefa said in the capital of Antananarivo and other large 
towns, churches have four Sunday worship services, at 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 
a.m. and 2 p.m., with 500-600 people in each service.  He was amazed to 
hear that the PCUSA is losing nearly 30,000 members a year.  "You need us," 
he said. 
 
Bill Lancaster 

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