The Psalmist too exhorts God's people "to teach their children, so that the next generation would know His law ... and they in turn would tell their children." "Then," he continues, "they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands." (Psalm 78:1-8)
Half the population of Madagascar is under the age of 15. Some of the villages visited by our Community Health Team seem to be composed very largely of children! Our responsibility is great.
Small beginnings
When Johan and Ann Coutigny and David and Jane Mann first arrived in Mandritsara in 1993 they were delighted to find that a small church of the FFBBM (the group of churches with which the HVM project is shared) had just been born. There were twelve members, three of whom were young people. These twelve members met each Sunday morning in a small building in the town, and had a mid-week Bible study and prayer meeting. No other meetings had as yet been organised.
We were warmly welcomed and it was not long before I was asked to help start a Sunday School. Ann Coutigny was also starting a work amongst the women and helping to teach a children's time during the services.
So a Sunday School was started with a group of fifteen to twenty children and young people. Three of the church members were keen to meet with me in order to prepare each week. We had no previously prepared lesson material in Malagasy, so I started writing lessons directly from the Bible. My previous experience of Sunday School work had convinced me of the value of consecutive Bible teaching, tracing God's plan of salvation from the entry of sin into the world in Genesis right through to the fulfilment of that plan in the birth, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Weakness, but with a vision
So we began - in much weakness. This was due to my lack of fluency in Malagasy and the fact that the church was only just taking shape. However, the children and young people kept coming, as did not a few adults who liked to sit and listen at the back. Gradually, as a few more church members were willing to help teach, we were able to divide the group into classes according to age.
I was preparing lessons with the aim of teaching the Word of God so that children and young people might understand their spiritual need, hear the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ and turn to Him for salvation; and secondly that those who came to true faith might grow in their knowledge and love of their Lord, learning to follow and serve Him more and more closely in their daily lives.
I also aimed to give the teachers a firm Biblical understanding of each passage taught, while encouraging them to adapt the lesson to the level of the children in their class. Regular help to this end is given in our weekly preparation sessions, and from time to time we have run extra courses for the teachers.
In addition, as the church has grown, there has been opportunity for helping and encouraging small teams of committed folk to go out each month to an increasing number of surrounding villages. Young people trained up in Sunday School have taken responsibility for reaching children and young people in these villages, whilst older church members have ministered to the adults.
It is the Lord who gives the increase
In Mandritsara itself we now have up to 150-200 (with some seasonal variation) attending Sunday School. After an initial time of worship together we divide into 14 classes ranging from tots through children and young people to adults.
In addition to the series of lessons originally started, another series of lessons with the specific needs of the very young children in mind have now been prepared. Though simple in approach, these also aim to lay a consecutive Biblical foundation.
Expansion
Another factor in the expansion of the work is the annual Holiday Bible Club we run each long winter holiday. Initially these were held in different parts of Mandritsara itself. Then we began holding the Club in a different nearby village each year. Often this has resulted in significant interest amongst the adults as well as the children, culminating in similar requests for regular
follow-up in the village. There are now half a dozen or more villages receiving such visits; others have already developed into small church-plants.
We are conscious that the Lord has opened a great door of opportunity. We continue few in number and feeling our own weakness. We do thank all who pray that this work will continue to know the Lord's blessing, provision and protection. May it be a means of bringing new life to many and may it all be for His glory.
Holiday Bible Club
Jane Mann
Advice on preparing Bible lessons
Sunday school praise and prayer
Bibliography/Sources of Materials Used