July 13th, 2023
Each index (such as “[42]”) corresponds to a photo or video of the same name in the gallery above.
I was given the incredible honor to accompany Pastor Young Ohm and represent Leadership International in the presentation and celebration of a new translation of the Holy Bible to the Tsimihety people in Northern Madagascar. This slice of the Malagasy is made up of nearly 2.5 million people, and while many are taught the standardized Malagasy language, and to a lesser extent, French, they had until now never encountered God’s Word in their own language.
Pastor Ohm and I flew into Antsohihy on Saturday July 8th, and as the plane pulled up to the small airport, I could see dozens on the end of the runway waiting for us [1]. Their joy and excitement were electric, half of our hosts were taking videos and pictures as we stepped out onto the runway. They crowded around us and took our things, putting traditional Tsimihety bags over our shoulders as a welcoming gift, and carrying our luggage for us. We found Pastor Njato and his wife, and we were ushered into the airport lobby where a few groups of singers and dancers led us in a song praising Jesus [2][3].
Everywhere I looked, people would be staring at me or Pastor Ohm, but a big smile and wave would always be reciprocated; I realized quickly that though I was just as foreign to them as they were to me, no one was anything but loving, welcoming, and excited. I started to understand the responsibility and honor I’d been given, especially being potentially the only white man for miles, because I was seen as the face of Leadership International and therefore the Bible translation that everyone was so eager about.
We were shown into one car of many in a line, and without warning we were the guests of honor in a parade running through the center of town, past market stalls and lots of confused onlookers. Hundreds of people led the charge walking ahead of us, singing songs and praising the Lord the whole way [4][5][6]. A few miles and we arrived at the square where a stage and seating areas had been set up [7].
Pastor Ohm and I were led to sit front and center of the stage, overlooking over 2000 people who had come for the celebration [8][9]. A full band complete with a drum set, guitars, and keyboards sat to our left just offstage, and they played more songs praising Jesus for the Bibles and the work He was doing here. We were given more gifts: traditional Tsimihety garments around our waists, and woven hats that were a symbol of their people.
With some introductory words spoken, I figured it was time for me to start documenting the ceremony from a different angle, so I began walking around the crowd [10][11][12][13][14]. More waves and beaming smiles greeted me everywhere I went, and I’d never felt safer in such an unfamiliar place surrounded by people I don’t know. I stopped taking pictures for a minute just to observe, and soon enough people started approaching and asking to take pictures with me. This cemented my understanding of the responsibility I had here, and I prayed that I’d not only be a good ambassador for Leadership International to these brothers and sisters, but an ambassador for the Kingdom as well. I hoped I could return to them a small portion of the kindness and love that they’d shown me, as Jesus’s example has taught me.
Back to business, I kept taking pictures and videos, and I noticed the table that had been set up to distribute the Bibles [15][16][17][18]. I watched as hundreds of people approached and paid 10,000 Ariary (equivalent to a bit over USD $2) each, and I asked Pastor Njato about this later. He said that the intention was for each Bible to mean something to the people who received them, and giving them out for free undercut that significance. If someone could take 10 for free and only use 1, that means a lot less than someone who invests an amount of money, however small, into each and every Bible they take for themselves and their families. Some would leave with stacks of Bibles to bring back to their children, and knowing that each one was an intentional choice and a sacrifice made this scene so much more meaningful [19]. Pastor Njato did reassure me though, the people who couldn’t afford even the 10,000 Ariary were given a Bible at a discount or even for free. This price tag was never a barrier, but it did prevent a single Bible from going to waste.
After a small banquet lunch to further celebrate the translators of the Bibles and everyone else who could help to realize this day, we took a break at our hotel, and left for another celebration later that night at the same location. Another related event was occurring, the first ever showing of the Jesus Film in Tsimihety, and Pastor Njato was kind enough to buy me a DVD copy. After the film had been shown, the same platform on which we’d sat earlier in the day became a stage for choirs, plays, and dances celebrating who Jesus is and His amazing love [20][21][22]. By the end of the day, we were told that over 1000 of the Bibles were given out already.
The next day we had the pleasure of meeting the governor of the region and presenting him with a Bible on national TV [23][24], as well as witnessing the first church service using the Tsimihety Bible, with nearly as many people showing up as the previous day [25][26][27][28][29].
One part of the square that stood out to me that day was a man at a table surrounded with older, worn Bibles (not in Tsimihety). Some of them were falling apart at the seams, pages missing and their covers nearly shredded, but he was taking special care to repair them with glue and wrappings [30][31]. Apparently, they had made a special service just for repairing and maintaining older Bibles, even when brand new ones were readily available not 100 feet away. This told me that the Tsimihety Bibles were in better hands than I ever could have imagined, and they would be cared for and cherished long after the same Bibles would have been left to rot in somewhere like the United States.
After a few days of celebrations, we packed up and headed to Port Berge, another town in which we could share this news about God’s Word, and who Jesus is in the process [32][33][34]. The first day, the dozens of Malagasy missionaries who’d come to help with evangelism joined us, and we set out in the morning in groups of two or three to share about Jesus [35][36][37][38]. I tagged along with another group and an interpreter because I only spoke English which wouldn’t have been of much use here. Travelling through the most poverty-ridden areas I’ve ever seen, we spoke to everyone we saw about who Jesus is and the work He’d been doing through people overseas to send the Bibles.
We spoke with around sixteen people, and of those sixteen only one said she wasn’t ready to commit to following Jesus. Around four said they were already following Him. The other eleven prayed to receive Jesus for the first time, and many of the new and seasoned believers bought Bibles (at this point they were discounted to 1000 Ariary, or a little over 20 cents) [39] – [47].
One man, when we told him we were with FJKM (the specific denomination we were based out of that day), he was worried we would try to force him to join our church instead of the one he already went to. Apparently, another “Christian” group had asked this of him recently. When we told him we were happy with whatever church he was going to as long as he was following Jesus, he was ecstatic. He bought a Bible, and with tears in his eyes, said, “This is the first time I’ve had a Bible that’s my own, and I can’t believe it’s in my own language.” [48]
Another man prayed to accept Jesus, then told us he was illiterate. He bought a Bible anyway, saying he’d give it to his children to practice their reading, and they can read it to him and tell him more about Jesus. [49]
Pastor Njato told me that now that the Bibles were in-hand, these evangelism groups would continue to work, and more of them would be developed all over the region. With the school holiday coming up, high school kids will make up a lot of these efforts. Considering that from just our one small group such an impact was made, I can only imagine how many people Jesus’s love will reach through these Bibles.
Overall, I was told over 5000 of the first printed batch of Bibles were given out in the first week of touring to different communities, and the number of hearts and minds that will be touched and comforted from God’s Word is hard to even comprehend. One thing is certain though, the Tsimihety people are one giant step closer to knowing God personally and deeply. [50] – [60]
Once again, I’d like to thank all those involved in this project for their incredible sacrifices and generosity with their time and money, and I’d like to thank African Leadership and Leadership International for allowing me to experience this and represent this massive victory for the Kingdom.
Thank you,
Clay Ansley