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BACKGROUND<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n MISSION AND MINISTRY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the areas where we are supporting mission and ministry, the church is finding much growth.\u00a0 The country of Madagascar is always one of the ten poorest nations in the world.\u00a0 The church struggles as the country struggles in their poverty of material wealth, but they are rich in spiritual gifts and have the people trained to bring people to Jesus Christ.\u00a0 We walk with them and provide the financial resources so they may do their work. FOMM continues to work to invite individuals and congregations into supporting the mission and ministry of the FLM.\u00a0 Together, we see the Kingdom of God grow!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/missions.nalcnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/37261075_1979316058798343_1058376106052157440_n-300x225.jpg\")
The Lutheran witness to the Gospel in Madagascar began in 1866 as a result of the London Missionary Conference, and the Norwegian Mission Society (NMS) began their work.\u00a0 In 1888 the Americans of Norwegian descent began to send missionaries to Madagascar. \u00a0In 1950, the FLM was formed, the first \u201cMission Field\u201d of the Lutheran Church to become an indigenous Lutheran Church.\u00a0 At that time, the new FLM incorporated into their church the \u201cFIFOHAZANA\u201d movement.\u00a0 The term literally means \u201cto get up\u201d, \u201cto awaken\u201d, \u201cto revive\u201d, \u201cstop sleeping and get up\u201d!\u00a0 This movement within the FLM has been the driving force for their evangelism outreach to make them one of the fastest growing Lutheran Churches in the world.\u00a0The movement not only calls for people to wake up to their spiritual needs and believe in Jesus Christ, but they also incorporate social justice into their work.\u00a0 Thus, they have many institutions that deal with people\u2019s physical, mental and social issues.\u00a0 They have the largest medical organization called SALFA of any of the former \u201cmission fields\u201d.\u00a0They have schools for the blind and deaf, as well as regular schools associated with the congregations.\u00a0 They have one main seminary called SALF that offers a M.Div. degree plus numerous regional seminaries that train pastors for ministry.\u00a0 They have numerous places called \u201cTobys\u201d where lay people are trained for doing ministry in the congregations.\u00a0 Those that complete this training are called Shepherds.\u00a0 The Tobys also carry out social justice ministries, like care for the poor, mentally ill, etc.\u00a0 They have a marvelous balance between Gospel and service!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/missions.nalcnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Friends-of-Madagascar-300x225.jpg\")
Friends of Madagascar Mission (FOMM) has been supporting evangelism projects in the FLM for 8 years.\u00a0We are new upon the scene but are unique in how we relate to the church.\u00a0 We provide prayer and financial support for:\u00a0 1) Evangelists, 2) Prison Ministry, 3) Nutrition and Emergency Medical Care in a desert southwest region of Madagascar where drought happens frequently and malnutrition is a constant problem, 4) Support of Bible Schools, 5) Translation of the Bible into the Tandroy dialect which opens up a whole new area for evangelization, 6) We are currently implementing and beginning a Drip Irrigation Program in the south west region.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/missions.nalcnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/36707885_10156382682154654_5071801943542726656_o-300x261.jpg\")
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