May the Lord bless you and keep you

“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace!” (Numbers 6:24-26)

With these words of blessing, we greet you as we enter this new year, 2025! This is how God instructed Moses and Aaron to bless His people, and His promise following this blessing is: “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

We speak this blessing over you and your loved ones, with faith and obedience. This is our heartfelt wish for you in this new year. By “placing the name of God” on you, we trust that God Himself takes responsibility for this promise, making it far more than a mere routine recitation for the new year or on Sunday services.

The Church Construction Project

In our previous update, we shared that the country was spared during Cyclone Chido’s passage. This has allowed significant progress on the roofing work, so that, even as the rainy season (though late) begins, an important milestone has been reached. As previously mentioned, wherever the structure has been installed, the roof has been completed. Roofing work will now pause temporarily due to the rainy season.

Current tasks for the first part (South and East):

• Installation of braces, ridge caps, and parapets for cyclone-resilient reinforcement of the structure.

• Resuming concrete pouring to secure anchor bolts for the final section of the framework, which will be installed after the rainy season.

We have been blessed by the invaluable support of many individual and institutional partners.

FPMA: A Long-standing Partner

The FPMA-Paris Church (Malagasy Protestant Church of Paris) dedicated its annual solidarity initiative for Madagascar (Ezaka Madagasikara) to the construction project. Additionally, a fundraising campaign led by Pastor Daniel Rajakoba in July 2023 mobilized many FPMA parishioners across France to contribute regularly or on a one-time basis.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to FPMA France, the National Revival Department, the Paris parish, and all individual contributors.

BIRD School (Banjina Iombonan’ny Raiaman-Dreny) in Antananarivo

Another long-standing partner, this institution has provided critical assistance and expertise for this phase of the project. Their contributions include:

• Follow-up of the construction of the roof structure in Antananarivo.

• Comprehensive logistical support for transporting the structure and roofing sheets (using three semi-trailers!).

• On-site assistance with installing roof components, braces, etc.

And above all, they remain steadfast partners in prayer!

One unsung hero of this project is a retired grandpa who remains in the background (he is modest and shy), yet he has generously offered his time and talent. Thank you, Raiamandreny!

The Nathanael Association

Based in Antananarivo, this association exists to support all projects at the Toby Kristy Voahombo, providing technical, medical, and financial assistance. 100% of its budget is dedicated to the Toby, funded by both local and international fundraising efforts. A large portion of the church construction financing has been made possible through this partner. Thank you! And Soli Deo Gloria!

Challenges 2025

We begin this new year facing numerous and monumental challenges with the confidence that God’s unwavering faithfulness reminds us once again that “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Beyond the project of completing the construction of the church to host the annual Toby convention in May 2025, we will also have to work on many other projects, each as urgent as the next.

Material Support for the Most Underprivileged Children

This is an opportunity to highlight a small association based in the Drôme region of France: Action Solidarité 2 Deniers or AS2D (in reference to the widow’s two coins mentioned in the Gospel, Mark 12:42-44). Among its founders are Charles-Daniel and Evelyne Maire, who are well-known in Madagascar (at least among the older members of our community), particularly through their ministry within the Scripture Union.

For several years, AS2D has been supporting underprivileged children in various African countries through the generosity of its members and donors. A few dozen of our children here at the Toby benefit from this support. It is a sponsorship system that provides the most vulnerable children with at least one hot meal per day and school supplies.

The impact of this initiative has been evident among the children enrolled in the Zoto school at the Toby. We believe it is one of the determining factors behind the success of these children in national exams. By God’s grace, for several years now, the Toby school has maintained a 100% success rate in the CEPE (primary school certificate, which still existing in Madagascar) and the BEPC (lower secondary school certificate).

We are truly grateful for AS2D and its members. Thank you!

However, the donors supporting this project are “getting older” and, together with us, are calling for renewed momentum and younger supporters to ensure that, one day, these children will no longer need sponsorship. While awaiting the realization of various Toby self-sufficiency projects (potable water access, energy, sustainable agriculture), we continue to appeal to anyone who wishes to contribute to helping these sponsored children become a seedbed for the future of the community and the Nation.

A Glimpse of Upcoming Challenges

We will have the opportunity to present the other challenges awaiting us this year in greater detail, but here is a brief overview:

• Self-sufficiency projects (mentioned earlier)

• The SEKAF Training Center

• Zoto School

• The Primary Care Center

Using the image of the widow’s two coins, we believe, as you do, that with a willing heart, we can achieve infinitely more than with flourishing finances alone - because it is not us who act, but Him!

Happy New Year!