Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, has a growing population of 33 million people of whom 40% are under the age of 15. Rooted in Jesus was first translated into the national language, Malagasy, and introduced to two of the six Anglican dioceses in 2011.  Encouragingly, the Dioceses of Toliara and Fianarantsoa both widely adopted the programme amongst adults and, using the Junior programme, among youth and children.

There is much to give thanks for in both dioceses, as well as an important prayer request from the Diocese of Toamasina, where we have recently worked.

The Ven Paulin Zaralahay, coordinator in the Diocese of Fianarantsoa has sent an inspiring report. There are now 162 adult and 203 Junior groups in 22 churches or parishes across the diocese, with 1,851 adult members and 2,327 Junior members! He also reports that in 2025 they were able to open two new churches, one at Ambatovaky in Ambalavao parish, and one at Ambalakely in the Cathedral parish! Though the work is challenging, given that the diocese is large and it is difficult to visit all the parishes, the diocese plans to plant more churches, provide ongoing teaching, and continue with the work of evangelism under the leadership of the bishop, Gilbert Rateloson who now carries additional responsibility as Archbishop of the Province of the Indian Ocean.

The Diocese of Toliara occupies the southernmost portion of the island. It is an extremely dry region, and suffers from drought, food insecurity, poor educational resources and widespread poverty. And yet here too growth is a priority. Both the newly appointed Assistant Bishop Victor Osoro and Diocesan Bishop Samitiana place a high priority on evangelism and discipleship. Revd Doyen Razafilahy, himself recently appointed as the Rooted in Jesus coordinator reports that there are now 34 Rooted in Jesus adult and Junior groups meeting in 18 churches, including one led by Bishop Samy!

In contrast, some distressing news from the Diocese of Toamasina where we last reported from in October 2025. Just as the coordinators Revd Jimmy Fridels and Revd Marlin Fety were preparing to send their annual reports, Toamasina was hit by an intense tropical cyclone. Cyclone Gezani, made landfall in the second week of February and destroyed up to 75% of the city, Madagascar’s main port. Wind gusts of up to 248 km per hour were recorded, 40 people died, and hundreds of thousands have been affected, with many losing their homes and livelihoods.

Bishop Solo wrote, “Around 28 churches cannot be used, (having been) destroyed completely. And around 800 families have become victims (with) no house to stay = 2000 people. No house and no food. Urgent needs are now food because rice fields, cassava and potatoes are flooding with water. All were destroyed and disappeared in one night.”

So the news is mixed: great blessing for those who have ministered so persistently, but tragedy for those who have once again had their lives ravaged by factors outside their own control. Life is never easy in Madagascar, with the World Bank estimating that the proportion of the population living in extreme poverty is among the highest in the world. We can only hope and pray that they will recover from this latest blow – as they have many times before.

We have published a full report on the conference on our blog.