One of the indicators of a healthy church is its burden for reaching children with the gospel. It has always been encouraging to see the commitment of the Bible Baptist churches in Madagascar to the priority of children’s work. In Mandritsara, one of the first ministries of the church when it was formed in 1992 was the Sunday school, 8am to 9am each week and now drawing hundreds of children, teenagers and adults.

Then came the annual Holiday Bible Club when a team from the Mandritsara church goes out to a nearby village each Saturday afternoon for 5 weeks of the long school holidays. A different village is targeted each year and almost all the children in that village and neighbouring ones attend with much joy and enthusiasm. This has brought the gospel message to many new villages over the course of the years.

In 2003 another ministry was started, the Saturday Bible Club, running from January to June each year. The vision behind this was to bring the good news of Jesus to children who were not being reached through Sunday school. This would include children whose families attend other churches where they might not hear the gospel, or faithful Bible teaching, for example.

The aim of the club was stated as:

1. To teach children the Way of Salvation.

2. To bring the gospel to children with a non-evangelical background.

3. To help children understand and memorise the Bible.

None of these children’s ministries was able to function during the time of Covid restrictions, but we rejoice that the Saturday Bible Club has just celebrated the closing service for its 2022 year back in action.

Bako, who teaches the Malagasy language to the missionaries, was one of the original leaders, and she has still been a leader this year. She writes: “I thank God for His mercy that He has allowed me to serve in the Club since I returned to Mandritsara and for the strength He has given me. There have been about 100 children this year, with 6 leaders. We studied Exodus 1-12, the Children of Israel leaving Egypt under Moses. It was all very encouraging, both for the children and for the leaders. God continues to watch over us.”

Here is a little video of the children singing “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus,” (in Malagasy) at the end of term presentation for the parents.

1. Pray that the children may come to trust and love the Saviour.

2. Pray that the Bible verses they have learnt may stay with them and continue to help them to follow Jesus.

3. Pray that parents and family may also be touched by the gospel as they think about what their children have learnt.