Posts Tagged: peace

Protecting the Resources of Madagascar

We have been deeply impressed by the rich cultural heritage of the Malagasy people and the tremendous natural resources and the great biodiversity of this unique environment where 90% of the plants and animals on the island of Madagascar can be found nowhere else on earth. Sadly, the resources of this nation are at a… Read more »

A remote village in Madagascar and a bounty of blessings

We turned off the national road onto a deeply rutted dirt road that took us to the village of Mahatsinjo. The village, four miles away at the end of the road, had 25 homes, a Catholic Church, and a school. The district mayor and the vast majority of the town and children welcomed us. After… Read more »

Worshipping with the Malagasy People

On this Sunday I was touched by many messages of peacemaking. We arose once again this morning to the sounds of lemurs communicating, a wake up call by God’s wonderfully unique creation.  Our group divided into four teams and fanned out across the area to attend the worship services of four congregations:  Andasibe, Moramanga Fitiavana,… Read more »

Lemurs, Chameleons and Orchids, O My!

It was was a delightful and exciting Saturday exploring God’s unique and fascinating creation in the Madagascar rain forest. A group of 6 intrepid adventurers left at 6:30 am, well after the sun had risen and the lemurs had begun their “singing,” for what turned out to be a rather strenuous 6 hour hike into… Read more »

Women of the Church in Madagascar

We drove 3 1/2 hours from the capital city of Antananarivo to the community of Moramanga.  Fifteen minutes into the trip, we realized that one of our leaders, Mission Co-Worker Elizabeth Turk, was not in either vehicle.  She had been left behind back at the hotel and phones were not working.  Elizabeth is a very… Read more »

Blessed are the peacemakers…in Madagascar

Sambatra ny mpampihavana Blessed are the Peacemakers It was a fascinating day in Madagascar!  The leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (known by its Malagasy acronym, FJKM) shared their knowledge on an extraordinary range of subjects.   In the morning we learned about the background of the FJKM, its Reformed tradition, its structure… Read more »

Travel Study Seminar begins in Madagascar

The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s partner, the five million-member Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (known by its Malagasy acronym, FJKM), has multifaceted and holistic ministries that seek to respond to the challenges of poverty, human exploitation, social and political conflict, and environmental degradation as an integral part of what it means to follow Christ. A… Read more »

Presbyterian Ministry at the UN hopeful for political solution in Colombia

On January 25, 2016, the United Nations Security Council acted to “to set up a United Nations political mission in Colombia, approving a team of international observers to monitor disarmament should the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) reach a final agreement to end Latin America’s longest armed conflict.” We… Read more »

UN Human Rights Day observed December 10

from Gregg Brekke of the Presbyterian News Service Human Rights Day, observed each year on December 10, commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This year’s Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign called “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always.” The campaign… Read more »

16 Days of Activism – Day 12: Advent Reflection

by Robert Arrington Today on the second Sunday of Advent, we consider the prophecy spoken by Zechariah in Luke 1:68-79:  “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David,as he spoke… Read more »