Some thoughts from Julian Hardyman
Missionary and Bible teacher in Mandritsara
What spiritual teaching is this ‘Before and After’ picture illustrating? Perhaps an illustration of Ezekiel 16 – God’s grace and love to His people? Or perhaps an illustration of Hosea’s story? Actually, the intention of the picture is to show the beauty of God’s work in the local church under wise and Biblical government.
Church Government? Not a pair of words to set most Christians’ spiritual pulse racing! It conjures up arcane debates about offices, votes and rulebooks. Surely it is a very low priority for missionary work compared with evangelising the unreached and discipling new Christians? And yet the recent history of the work of the Lord in the Bible Baptist church network in and around Mandritsara has revealed that Biblically based church government, and church leadership, are vital to the health and growth of God’s work. And when they go wrong, the result is cataclysmic for the gospel.
Following longstanding difficulties in this area, which came to a head three years ago, two new churches were established in Mandritsara town, led by Christians who were godly and mature but had little experience of eldership-level leadership in the church. What they did have were recent memories of church government falling below Biblical standards and a determination to return wholeheartedly to the Bible.
Arising from this, representatives from the faithful Bible Baptist Churches in the region came together in late 2024 to form a Regional Leadership Committee, to support churches in the villages and to coordinate outreach with the relevant teams at the Good New Hospital.
Starting in September 2025, a series of sermons was given at the Anjohivola Bible Baptist Church in Mandritsara on the Biblical shape of Church government. This included teaching on the role and responsibilities of the elders, how a pastor fits in with the eldership leadership team, the role of deacons, and how good congregational church government works.
This then became a series of seminars for a second church, and this was developed to include the tricky issue of pastoral salaries.
The first church, Anjohivola Bible Baptist Church had been led since its beginning in 2022 by an informal, ad hoc, team of leaders. Following the teaching, the leaders decided that the church members should be given the opportunity and responsibility to vote and call elders. A vote was held in February, and in March a number of pastors and leaders from other Baptist Churches in the town and the villages, led a service of commissioning and ordination of the new elders. The service was a deeply affecting time, when four men felt the weight of the responsibility falling on their collective shoulders.
This gave rise to a request that the material be presented to the Regional Church Leaders’ Conference. So, in early May, representatives from 70 churches gathered for three and a half days at the Anjohivola Church building. At this point the ‘Before and After’ illustration was developed to help people to understand God’s desire for His church.
The text in the central column comes from Ephesians 5:25-28: “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” The text in yellow means ‘church government according to the Bible’. The delegates were given a vision of the glory of the work of Christ in preparing a beautiful Bride for Himself and shown how that means good church elders caring for their churches with the Word and Prayer, according to Biblical principles and practice.
Church delegates in discussion
Within this exciting vision, Biblical basics on government and leadership were articulated and applied to village church situations in lively discussion groups. Many commented on how much they had learned and for some it was critical in their realignment with the Bible Baptist network.
Overall, the first five months of 2026 have been deeply encouraging ones in this network of churches - a steady trickle of baptisms, a new cell group being started, many signs of spiritual renewal, and a rising mood of spiritual confidence and optimism. This comes after two to three very tough years, especially for some key leaders.
Fellowship at the evening meal
Please give thanks for what some are calling a quiet reformation of church life in the Bible Baptist Church network here - that it may be carried out thoroughly and with continuing effect. And that new churches and cell groups will have these foundations.
Please pray for the churches in Mandritsara - all three would love to call pastors. Anjohivola may well have an announcement about this shortly. Pray for the appointment of elders and deacons too.
And pray also for the village churches and their leaders as they work through this re-laying of the foundations for Biblical leadership and church government, in situations that are very different from churches in the town. The leaders have requested teaching for church members on giving (!) at the big Annual Regional Meeting in August.
Above all pray that the great loving work of Christ to prepare a spotless Bride for Himself will be advanced through Biblical church leadership and government here in Mandritsara and around the region.