Wales & the World
Madagascar: Prayers Required.
October 2011 will see a group representing the National Synod of Wales visiting the Reformed Church in Madagascar (FJKM) primarily to demonstrate support to our partner church through the Global Partners programme of the URC , but also to see how our two churches might develop the link, following a turbulent time for the Church in Madagascar.
We need your prayers for this visit. For further details please contact Linda Elliott email
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In the meantime...more recent news
Much of Madagascar suffers poverty and unemployment, and the FJKM is seeking to respond to these problems. It runs 450 schools and recently began a project to fight bribery, HIV/AIDS and poverty.
MADAGASCAR: Raw sewage kills
Photo: Guy Oliver/IRIN
Commitment for Life presentation
Please find attached the Presentation on Commitment for Life from the Wales Synod representative, Mary Jeremiah
Madagascan News
HARASSMENT TOWARDS THE CHURCH AND ITS LEADERS
In the evening of February 18, 2011 a pirate radio was –according to the HAT - found broadcasting from TOPAZA an FJKM orphanage center situated in Ambohipotsy, Antananarivo. People from this radio were arrested. Ms Tantely Rakotoarivony director of the center is accused of keeping the pirate radio and is also detained on February 25, 2011 and she is still in custody. Physically she is a bit weak according to those who saw her.
This radio and its people are unknown to FJKM. The FJKM officers and its president Rev Lala Rasendrahasina are accused without evidence by the HAT to have given order to Ms Tantely to let this radio broadcast in the center. Todays media in Madagascar speak about this wrong news from the HAT. This is one fact among others used by the government to persecute the Church and its leaders.
The Olympics and you
As some, perhaps even most of you, will know, More than Gold, the ecumenical umbrella organisation coordinating Christian involvement in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games, is running a 12 date tour this October and November. All events are held at famous sporting grounds across the UK and, with the exception of one of the London events, all are held between 7.30 and 9.00pm in the evenings, with light refreshments from 7pm. Admission is free, but you do need to register in advance (details in the news story, link below).
Full details here: http://www.urc.org.uk/news/2010/september/catch_the_olympic_vision_this_autumn. And I have also attached the promotional leaflet in electronic format which you can fw or print out and distribute.
Please do register to attend the event nearest to you if you can
Any questions – don’t hesitate to contact me!
Gill Nichol
Press & Media Officer, United Reformed Church
November Synod Meeting and Commitment for Life Appeal
Linda Mead, the programme co-ordinator for C for L and I gave a presentation spelling out what it is, who benefits, why we should support it and how to do it. The Moderator gave a powerful introduction, detailing his support, commitment and enthusiasm for this service. Historically Wales has supported Christian Aid appeals for world wide crises, we now want to extend this to supporting their long term project work through C for L. Last year the income from C for L from England, Scotland and Wales was £550,000 of which Wales contributed £ 8,000(approx.).
Please give this your prayerful consideration. Through Commitment for Life the Wales Synod could produce remarkable results for Christian Aid, and play a significant role in sustaining life in our four partner countries (see Commitment for Life web site)
Mary Jeremiah (C for L Advocate for Wales)