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Events
MERCY MISSION EXPEDITION
MADAGASCAR
Second Mercy Mission to Madagascar Complete
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If what Martin Luther said is true, that Christians are little Christs to one another in love, then surely I have seen our Lord Jesus in Madagascar. What I witnessed in the Malagasy Lutheran Church was much more than just social needs, although we certainly saw many, but much more than that I am witness to these Christians’ bond of faith in Jesus Christ which in turn binds them to each other in love. Their care for one another truly exemplifies what it means to be the body of Christ.
Perhaps what struck me more than anything else in Madagascar was the urgency of faith among Malagasy Lutherans. Faith in Christ is not one thing among many in a busy life, but faith in Christ appeared to me to be the fabric of their existence, the essence of everyday labor, and the reason for loving each other so recklessly. In short, the Malagasy Lutherans we met on this trip have fixed their eyes on Jesus and have not yet grown weary. It’s lovely, and we would do well to run and struggle with them.
- Seminarian Jason D. Lane
“I have never seen such dedication and compassion as that exemplified by pastors, teachers, doctors, nurses and workers in the Malagasy Lutheran Church commented Nathan Raddatz after returning from the second Mercy Mission Expedition to Madagascar funded by the LCMS Board for World Relief and Human Care. Raddatz was one of the six fourth-year seminarians from Concordia Theological Seminary who accompanied Prof. John T. Pless on this spring break event to gain first-hand experience in the linkage of Gospel proclamation to works of mercy in one of Africa’s fastest growing Lutheran Churches. The Rev. Matthew Harrison, Executive Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care and Dr. Albert Collver, Executive Pastoral Assistant joined the CTS group for the first three days of the tour.
The cohort was in Madagascar from February 23-March 3, visiting Lutheran churches, a regional seminary, a center for the poor, several tobys (literally encampments of mercy), hospitals, an agricultural school, an orphanage, and a school for the blind. All of these institutions are operated by the Malagasy Lutheran Church. From its inception, 140 years ago, the Malagasy Lutheran Church has preached repentance and faith in Christ’s name while seeking to bring healing in His name to those who suffer the ravages of disease. Seminarian Peter Gregory said “I was impressed by the way in which the Malagasy Lutheran Church joins spiritual care with bodily care, especially in the tobys. Their church ministers to the whole person. It delivers forgiveness of sins even as it shows mercy to those in need- the poor, the elderly, the blind, and the sick.”
There were many deeply moving moments throughout the week. One came when Prof. Pless and the CTS students presented a gift of books to the library of the regional seminary in Antsirabe where CTS graduate student, Rev. David Rakotonirina is president. Among the books given to the library were books from the collection of the late Wes Geer, a CTS seminarian who died this past June. His widow, Julie Geer, donated Wes’ books to the Malagasy seminary. Malagasy pastors and seminarians received copies of the new Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions purchased with funds raised by CTS students. After receiving the Concordia, one Malagasy seminarian remarked “This is the best gift you could give to us.” CTS students who participated in the 2006 Mercy Mission Expedition raised over $8,000 for LCMS World Relief and Human Care to use in support of the Good Samaritan Center in Fianarantsoa. This year’s students visited the Good Samaritan Center where the fund-raising efforts of their fellow-seminarians will result in the construction of an enclosed kitchen. Currently the cooking is done out of doors; a very difficult endeavor during Madagascar’s long rainy season.
After seeing several profound instances of suffering and destitution in the Malagasy hospitals and tobys, Seminarian Christopher Raffa said “I was able to see in the most concrete realities where theology and human care are united in the person of Christ who came not to be served but to serve. God in Christ gives His life for the world, and now man justified freely gives his life for the neighbor. The essence of the church therefore is not only to be a recipient of God’s grace and mercy, but also a dispenser of it, to serve as one who has been served.” And in a similar vein, Seminarian Jeremy Mills reflected on Ephesians 4:4-6, remarking that “The Malagasy Lutheran Church is an attestation to the reality that all who confess Christ are formed into His body and unite together with Christians from all over the world in confessing Christ’s saving grace to a hurting and dying world.” Seminarian Jeff Ware commented “Not only were we able to discover ways in which we can assist the Malagasy Lutheran Church but we also learned a great deal from them. The tremendous dedication of the Malagasy Lutheran pastors and the great sacrifices that they make in order to preach the gospel was an inspiration to me.”
The CTS students were humbled and impressed by the sacrifices that their Malagasy counterparts make to study theology. More adequate library resources are needed. The library at Antsirabe has no more than 500 books and only a couple of computers none of which are in good condition. To say the least, living conditions at the seminary are challenging. Several of the student houses have leaky roofs. Students attend classes in the morning but farm in the afternoon in order to provide food for themselves and their families.
Spring break 2007 was an adventure in mercy for the students blessed with the opportunity to travel to a church in a distant part of the world. Morning and Evening Prayers with readings throughout the week from II Corinthians and Martin Luther’s Day By Day We Magnify framed the experience. It was a week that they will not soon forget. Concordia Theological Seminary is deeply grateful to Rev. Matthew Harrison for his farsighted leadership in partnering with us to make these expeditions of mercy substantial opportunities of learning and pastoral formation for our students.
Each of the students who participated in the trip has pledged to make at least ten presentations in congregations, LWML groups, schools, or pastoral conferences over the next year. If you would be interested in having such a presentation, please contact Prof. John T. Pless.
-Prof. John T.Pless
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