People Reaching People in Madagascar

The Rev. Todd and Patsy McGregor with their two daughters Corby and Charese have been serving in the diocese of Antananarivo, Madagascar (off the south east coast of Africa) since 1991.  Todd is canonical resident in our Diocese of Southeast Florida.

There are four main areas which they are serving in Madagascar: Lay Training, Church Planting, Health Care, and Pastoring. They describe their ministry in their own words:

Lay Training: The McGregor family has been involved in developing the first official lay training program for the Diocese of Antananarivo. The program began in 1998 focusing primarily in training evangelists, shepherds (spiritual counselors) and deaconesses. Last year, the program had our first graduates.

Presently, we have approximately 40 students in the program and are building a large, two story Educational Complex which will be the Diocesan training center for spiritual teaching (lay training), health care training (head quarters/distribution center), English as a Second Language (ESL) and training in developing microbusinesses. .

Church Planting: As a result of training in evangelism, we have begun having evangelistic missions each month. As a result of these missions we have begun house churches with the hope of building churches. This year we are building 10 new churches.

Health Care: We have been actively involved in developing health care programs in the Diocese of Antananarivo. Seven health care centers or dispensaries which provide professional care, instruction and medicines for patients are scattered throughout urban and rural areas, including parts of the rain forest only accessible by helicopter or on foot.

Rector: In recent years the McGregors have started church planting, the Ravinala Community Church, an ecumenical international English speaking community under the auspices of the Anglican Church which began in 1998. Todd serves as the rector/pastor while Patsy serves as one of the worship assistants.

Presently, a few minor projects include:

1) Publishing and introducing the Alpha course both in English and the Malagasy languages. This includes translating materials and training clergy and pastors on how to use the course,

2) The founding of Madagascar Christian Academy, a private school (September 2001) primarily designed to meet the needs of missionary children,

3) The building the first Cathedral in the diocese of Mahajanga (new diocese in 1996), which was completed and dedicated on Oct.21, 2001.

Support is welcome from our fellow Episcopalians in Florida and will find its way to us once received by the Diocese Office.

Missionary Sends Urgent Request
for Prayer in Madagascar Political Crisis