Madagascar Relief Fund Update

On behalf of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Lutheran Synod and the Madagascar Appeal Team and our partners in ministry at the Tulear Lutheran Synod and Bezaha Seminary in Madagascar, I want to thank our synod and partners for your generous gift to the Madagascar appeal. As mentioned in the appeal, your gift will be to help the Tulear Synod and the seminary in a time of severe drought, as well as help to address specific needs that relate to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Already, funds have been sent to Madagascar through the appropriate Churchwide offices.

Gifts from congregations and individuals has raised over $50,000 as of the beginning of October. It has been a truly heartwarming response, far exceeding our original goal for the appeal. Accordingly, the synod Madagascar Team, together with churchwide staff, will be meeting to discuss how our synod's response to the appeal might be translated into long-term support for the seminary, and more focused connections with the Tulear Synod. 

We have been in conversation with Pastor AINA Harifetra, one of the leaders in the Tulear Synod, who has kept us informed of the synod’s progress. Included are pictures that Pastor Harifetra sent to us. It shows a previous synod project of sharing food and daily supplies, to give us a quick view in how it will work. 

In September, we also received the good news that our partners in Madagascar will be working to define a multi-year sustainable agricultural project for the Bezaha seminary (such as is currently in place in the Betela seminary) for us to help support.

Again, thank you for your generous support. Information about our ongoing partnership with the Tulear Synod and the Behaza Seminary will be posted periodically on the synod website.

With you in Christ,

Bishop Kurt F. Kusserow