Madagasar: Full Circle

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On Monday, November 19, I will be heading to Madagascar for a ten-day visit. This will be my first opportunity to return to the Great Red Island as bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod. In many ways, it means coming full circle. My initial call as an ELCA pastor in 1988 was to serve with the church in Madagascar, first in the southern Tolagnaro Synod and later in our companion synod of Mahajanga and at our companion seminary of Betela. Although I’ve been back numerous times, this trip will be special in several ways.

First, our oldest daughter, Caroline, will accompany me.  While my wife, Kim, and our other two children have been back to Madagascar once, this will be Caroline’s first opportunity to return since we left Madagascar in 1998. I’m delighted to be with her during this “homecoming”—and grateful for the Frequent Flyer miles that will get us both there!

Secondly, Caroline and I will have the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with six participants in the new Young Adults in Global Mission program in Madagascar together with their country coordinators, Rev. Austin and Tanya Propst.  It was during my time as a Global Mission Area Program Director that the YAGM program was expanded to Madagascar. In fact, I was involved in selecting this first group for the pilot program. I’m thrilled to join them in this holiday away-from-home, and I’m especially pleased that two of these YAGM volunteers are from the Rocky Mountain Synod: Lee Kirberg of Evergreen Lutheran, Evergreen, CO, and Hannah Harmon from House for All Sinners and Saints, Denver, CO!

Thirdly, I will be able to join in the official consecration of the new Project Shalom Center in Mahajanga. This center, dedicated to Christian-Muslim Dialogue and to training Lutheran and other Christian leaders for in respectful relationship with their Muslim neighbors, represents an important milestone in the development of Project Shalom, which is directed by our friend and colleague, Pastor Daniel Rakotoarijaona. As one who was instrumental in the development of Project Shalom—the Malagasy Lutheran Church’s program of witness to the Muslim communities of Madagascar—I’m especially pleased to be at this special dedication service.

A fourth goal of this trip will be for me to pay a visit to key places in one of our four companion synods. I will be visiting Betela Seminary, meeting with the President of the Mahajanga Synod, Pastor Ramaro, and his leadership team.  On Sunday, November 25, I’ll be preaching in the town of Maevatanana, one of the hottest places in Madagascar.

Finally, I will be participating in the every-other-year Partnership Meeting between the Malagasy Lutheran Church and her international partners. These partners include the ELCA, the Norwegian Mission Society, the Danish Mission Society, and colleagues from the French Lutheran/Protestant church. My colleague, Rev. Andy Hinderlie, will represent our ELCA Global Mission unit, while I will be present on behalf of the four ELCA Synods who have companions in Madagascar (including Southwestern Pennsylvania, Central-Southern Illinois, and Western Maryland-West Virginia). Having synodical representation at the meeting will be an important extension of our church-to-church relationship.

Full circle … and yet the start of a whole new chapter in our RMS relationship with the Malagasy Lutheran Church and our colleagues there. As our Malagasy friends say:  “Boribory ny tany” … “It’s a small world!" I am eager to see how the Spirit of God will continue to expand our own vision for ministry thanks to this priceless relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ halfway around the globe.

Yours in Faith,
Bishop Jim Gonia

Comments

jpahlenius said…
Safari njema, Bischop Jim.
3:17 PM
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