It is my privilege to introduce you to Madagascar 3M’s new Executive Director, Avotra Ravelo. 

Avotra has been part of the 3M team for more than 3 years now, pouncing on every opportunity to serve. We have been able to observe his character, his zeal for the Lord and his giftedness. He is a natural servant-leader, and I am thrilled to see how the Lord is going to use him in the years to come. Avotra will oversea Operations, Administration, HR and Finance for our organization.

Here is his testimony:

“I grew up reading the bible, attending church, going to Sunday school, getting involved and serving in every possible way. What I thought to be a zeal for His house was nothing more than an attempt to deny my own wickedness and gain other people’s approbation. In reality, I went on without understanding the true Gospel, living exactly like the world yet firmly believing I was being a good person. 

Thankfully, the Lord has been so gracious and used someone to share the Gospel with me back in 2015. From that day on, I felt an increasing desire to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word and to be a member of a Bible-centered church. Following a long set of trials, I joined and am now actively serving at the Biblical Baptist Church of Ankadivato with my wife and my son.

It was in that setting that the Lord provided me with great fellowship with dear friends for whom I am thankful, as they are powerful tools for my sanctification. Their servant heartedness, genuine love for God’s Word and diligence to minister to others, fueled my desire to do the same wholeheartedly. 

I graduated with a chemical engineering degree and occupied different positions, as a teacher, a consultant, and even as a flight attendant.

This year (2023), God called me to work full time in ministry and I am more than grateful and thrilled to serve with the team of Madagascar 3M as the Executive Director.”

Welcome on board Avotra! May you be a conduit of blessing to the staff and all those you interact with. All for His glory.  

It’s this time of the year. We look back, we look within, we look forward and we set goals for ourselves. We make resolutions. We sincerely want to keep them most of the time. And we fail to do so most of the time. This is true even of Christians setting spiritual goals for themselves every year like abiding to a Bible reading plan or studying deeper a specific area of doctrine. 

So, the question is: should Christians keep making new year resolutions and try to keep them? Is there a point in making a list of self-determined objectives aimed at bettering one’s life? 

I would like to argue that yes, Christians should make resolutions. We see the people of God in the Bible and throughout church history make commitments. And we can see that they don’t make them only at the beginning of every year but every time they feel compelled to.

However, here are a few questions to challenge how these commitments are usually made and to help ensure that we do keep them:

1-   What is the Point? 

As Jesus explained the reason why He did what He did in His ministry, He summed it up by saying “…I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” (John 8:30)

Jesus was focused on pleasing and honoring God. 

Do I make my resolutions with the same focus on God’s glory and honor? Or do I focus more on what people will say of me or my own exaltation? Is my intent fixated on the “now” or on eternity with God (John 14:1-4; Rom 8:18-25; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 John 3:1-3)?

Our resolutions must align with God’s intent for our lives as Christians: our sanctification (1 Thes 4:3; 1 Pet 1:14-16). We must kill what prevents it, the deeds of the flesh and nurture what improves it (Rom 8:12-13; 13:13-14). 

2-   What is the Push?   

God looks at why we do things, not only at the things we do. He fully knows our motivations (1 Sam 16:7). We thus must attach not only an ultimate intent to our resolutions but also an unambiguous heart motive. We might be motivated to lose weight or acquire knowledge by ego or peer pressure. Yet we must learn to slay any selfish desires and replace them with a stronger yearning to conform our life to Christ’s. His smile of favor ought to be the only approval we seek. 

Paul prays in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12… 

As we display steadfastness, Jesus gets the glory. 

3-   What is the Plan? 

What are the accompanying measures you think to implement to ensure you will achieve the goals you set? 

Scripture encourages us to make plans, but reminds us that these plans are always subject to God’s sovereign will (Prov 16:9; James 4:13-17). 

The Bible also invites us to seek advice in making those plans.  Proverbs 15:22 says “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”

Once counsel is received, you must for your own ideas as to how you are going to reach the set target. Having an accountability partner long the way is definitely wise not to be side-tracked or blind-sided.  

4-   What is the Power Source? 

For the believer, all resolutions are illumined, empowered and sustained by the Holy Spirit. 

We are to live out our Christian lives with fear and trembling, knowing that God is at work to fulfill that which we commit to do (Phil 2:12-13). 

We thus must totally depend on His work on our behalf through prayer. 

Jesus asked the disciples to commit to one hour of prayer on His behalf in the garden. As we know they failed miserably. And so do we, often. 

Jesus tells us that the way to maintain our resolution is by watching and praying.

We are to apply all necessary processes so not to fall into temptation and we are to pray continually as our best efforts to fulfill the former will always fall short. 

We need to pray for guidance, wisdom, and strength (James 1:5) when it comes to our walk in Christ. 

Happy New Year 2023 everyone!

By God’s amazing grace and providence, Christian and Fiderana will be the second and third men from Madagascar to be trained at The Master’s Seminary. We can’t be more excited and grateful!

Left to Right: Christian, Soa-Miaina, Haddon & Mikala

Back to Front: Fiderana, Vina, Nampoina, Kasa & Kajy

They will leave our island with their family next week so to get ready to start their first semester in January 2023. 

Both men are granted this astounding opportunity through the generosity of donors of The Master’s Academy International and The Master’s Seminary, as well as so many others who are willing to invest through them in raising the next generation of church leaders in Madagascar. 

Lord willing, upon completion of their studies, they will return to be part of the faculty of Madagascar 3M Preaching Institute, which will open officially in August 2023 and is currently in the candidacy process to be part of the TMAI network of schools. 

Some may ask, “why are you sending them to seminary in the US?” Why uproot them from their current setting and ministry to make them travel thousands of miles to another culture? Can’t they just study in Madagascar? They can, and they have. And it is because they have demonstrated their faithfulness (2 Tim 2:2) in ministry in the local church and personal growth that they were considered as applicants.

Here are 5 reasons why seminary education is necessary and beneficial. Here is why we are grateful that these 2 men could go to The Master’s Seminary.   

Christian and Fiderana are going to seminary because their time there will: 

Test their Character

1 Timothy 3:10 says that “…these men must also first be tested.” The genuineness of character of those to be appointed as deacons or elders must be confirmed through trial. Granted, their personality has been examined while they served here in country, but their personality and convictions will be exposed and established further through the rigors of academic education while living in a foreign country. 

Being out of their comfort zone will draw them to rely fully on God for strength and wisdom. Not having their family around to support will draw husband, wife, and children even closer to each other.   

They will have teachers, peers and other believers all observing their life and teaching. 

Train them in Righteousness

2 Timothy 3:16-17 speaks of the nature of Scripture and its impact on one’s life as it is profitable “…for training in righteousness” and equip “for every good work.”

For the next 3 to 4 years, they will be spending a lot of time in the Biblical text, learning the original languages, searching for the author’s intended meaning and being diligent to faithfully identify and communicate the universal truths from the text. 

My prayer is that they will always do so with a devotion to serving and glorifying God and not just as a scholastic task. I pray that they will be the first impacted and molded by what they learn. I pray that they will take to heart to apply what they are learning (Ezra 7:10).   

Tutor them in Time Management

1 Peter 4:7a “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound thinking…” 

The assignments deadlines and the level of excellence required by theological education all contribute to eliminate the clutter from one’s life and pushes the student to make the most of his time. Seminary is, in that sense as well, the best preparation for ministry as time constraint is part of the reality of the pastor. Sunday always comes at the same time, and the unexpected is to be expected during the week (a birth, a death, a counseling need, administrative or logistical needs…) affecting sermon preparation. 

Christian and Fiderana will learn to balance their time between study, serving in the local church, fellowshipping with others, and protecting their time with their family. They will still have to do so once in ministry. It is not going to be easy. Here is an area for which we can truly be praying for them. 

Teach them Humility

Romans 12:3 “…I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think…” 

One thing I discovered from seminary is how ignorant and stupid I am. I remember struggling to score a “resounding” 37% on a Bible proficiency test. At the end of the seminary journey, I felt like there was still so much more I needed to learn, as my time in California opened my eyes to see the blessed despair of trying to fully comprehend God. He is truly unsearchable (Psalm 145:3; Rom 11:33), and yet there is no better endeavor than to keep seeking! The greater view of God we have, the humbler we become. 

Spiritual pride is a danger for every minister of the Word. Seminary will crush that. The erudition of your peers and professors will expose your lack thereof. The feedback you receive after preaching what you thought to be your best sermon ever will help you gain a healthy perspective on your own (un)worthiness. Stacking chairs or cleaning toilets as a part-time job will chasten one’s arrogance.

Tie them to a Band of Brothers

Proverbs 18:24 “…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” 

There is that person that sees you struggling in class who sees you battle to understand the accent of the professor and decides to sit next to you to translate from English to…English. Or the group of people carpooling with you helping you to memorize your Greek vocabulary or how to parse Hebrew verbs. Or the person who, seeing that your computer crashed just before the exams, takes from his own savings to buy you a new computer. Or the professor that takes you under his wing, availing himself to answer all your immature questions. Or the ones that will invite your family to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with them so that you wouldn’t feel lonely. Or the alumnus who shares their notes with you and calls weekly to pray with you as he’s been there before. Seminary truly places you into a band of brothers, for life.

The privilege of studying alongside godly men, going through thick and thin together, is immeasurable. No online class or self-study will provide that. Nothing will ever replace doing life together while getting an education. There is such a thing as the “invisible curriculum” including the lessons you learn through your own life’s trials and those you glean from observing others. 

Dr William Barrick was asked by a student one day what his best advice would be for one who embarks on a seminary journey. Dr Barrick replied: “Finish”.

To all my brothers preparing to attend seminary, may the Lord be with you and may you remain faithful until you finish. 

Christian, Fiderana, finish and come back soon. 

Note, “the service”, not the services. There is this trend today of creating a false dichotomy between the public – i.e., preaching – and the private – i.e., biblical counseling – ministry of the Word. Pulpit proclamation and Private discipleship are seen as two tasks or “types” of ministries the pastor must be involved in. These are two spheres of application of the same divine truth which are often pitched one against the other, with advocates of each camp being wary of too much of the other and not enough of their own specialty in the church.

There are two faulty perceptions of the service of the Word that need to be addressed here:  

1- A Faulty Segregation of Servants

The good old separation of clergy and laymen. In our passage in Acts 6, it is interesting to notice that the men appointed to serve tables (Acts 6:2, 5) are also later involved in the service of the Word, as we see Stephen involved in both private arguments about the Word (Acts 6:8-10) and public proclamation of the same Word (Acts 7:1-53). 

These 7 men were not pastors nor elders; they were laymen in the church. Isn’t it sad that names like Prochorus, Parmenas and Nicanor are customarily ignored in Christian circles for baby names? Or that Timon’s name is more attached to a meerkat in a cartoon than to a biblical champion of service? But I digress… 

God’s servants are all those who display undeniable characteristics of a Spirit-filled life, whether they have a title, a position in the church, or not. These servants are marked by:

• Set-apart living: Acts 6:3 tells us that they were of “good reputation”, and verse 5 describes Stephen as “full of faith”. These men stood out because their lives 
• Servant-heartedness: When they were chosen, the whole congregation wholeheartedly vouched for them (v.5), because they were already marked and recognized as having what it takes for the task. Their brothers and sisters in the church knew them and knew they can serve in this capacity. Faithfulness in service is always noticed. 
• Scripture Saturation: They were “full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” (Acts 6:3). Being filled with the Spirit is equated in Scripture with letting the Word of Christ dwell richly (See Eph 3:19-19 and Col 3:16). Stephen’s discourse in Acts 7 attests to that. 

Whether he is a pastor or not, the servant of the Word mut be marked by holiness, humility, and diligence. A servant serves, with or without a badge.   

2- A Faulty Segregation of Services

As already mentioned with these men, they were involved in both. We see Philip preaching in Acts 8:5 and then ministering privately to the Ethiopian eunuch later in that chapter (Acts 8:25-38). We see the apostles involved in both in their ministry. They are both “the service of the Word”. 

God’s Word transforms and shapes lives either through the public proclamation of the Word (preaching, teaching, apologetic forums, etc.) or through the private ministry of the Word (evangelism, soul care, counseling, personal discipleship, etc.). And this is because:

• There is only one Author to Scripture: God the Holy Spirit, the One who inspired the writers, is also the One who illuminates the minds of those who hear it preach or shared one-on-one. He is the Spirit that confers power to the sermon and wisdom to the friend’s advice. The preacher and the counselor are under the same authority and guidance.   
• There is only one Approach to Scripture: Study to interpret and apply the timeless truths contained in God’s Word is always required, whether one is boldly proclaiming the Word from the pulpit, or unnoticeably trying to win his brother over. “Thus says the Lord…” is the only message that matters vehiculated by the servant of the Word. 
• There is only one Aim to the use of Scripture: Paul defines that aim in 1 Thes 1:1-12 when he says “…just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and bearing witness to each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” Holiness, Christlikeness, is the single goal, always. 

Both “types” are based upon the conviction that God’s Word is inspired, authoritative, sufficient, and relevant. For both tasks, the servant of the Word must endeavor to become “approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15). 

Therismos Investment Company (TIC) was created a few years ago to “fuel the Lord’s harvest“. The vision of TIC continues to be to contribute to help pastors and church leaders towards a sustainable income so they can focus on the ministry of the Word and prayer. TIC also desires to support the evangelism and missions efforts carried out by our partner churches and Christian organizations. Finally, TIC has been established to contribute to making Madagascar 3M self-sustaining in a few years, and thus be a model to other local Christian businesses.

We have been trying to reach these goals through launching various projects, yet, after a few setbacks and disappointments, we realized that we needed someone at the helm, really focusing on the implementation and coordination of income generating projects for TIC. And we have been praying for God to send the right person, with a heart for ministry and the adequate background for the task. Well, God answered our prayers.

Meet Mpitily (his name means “Watchman” in Malagasy), our new Therismos Investment Company Project Manager, or should I say watchman 😁. Here is more about him in his own words and how the Lord led him to be part of TIC.

“My parents taught me from my early childhood that good deeds don’t save, only receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior does. So, I believed it, sincerely. The problem was that I believed more in the fact that I did the sinner’s prayer than in Jesus. As a result, when I came to realize how sinful I was, I started to doubt my salvation. Would Jesus still welcome me into Heaven although I continuously trample on His holiness? That question tormented me for long, leaving me afraid of going to hell every single night. 
But then, throughout the years, through Bible studies and teachings especially from a person at the Scripture Union, I came to grasp more and more of who Jesus is and the implication of His death and resurrection for my life. Now I believe in Jesus, not just in a prayer.”

How did you came to be a project manager at TIC?
“To make a long story short, since I was a freshman at high school (2011), I already had that vision or desire to support non-profit initiatives (like a school for really poor children) through business. Consequently, I decided to study business management. When I got my Associate’s degree in 2015, I decided to start a small business to see what’s my worth in the real world. Unfortunately, the results were way below my expectations and I sold the business in 2018 and focused on pursuing my other passion, performing arts and cinema production. In 2020, I applied to a university to study theology overseas, was accepted, yet could not go due to lack of funds. My dreams and plans were shattered. I was confused and disappointed, grumbling to God: “Is that how you love your child?” A new season started. A season during which I had to find a job unrelated to my plans and dreams. A season when God confronted my grumbling heart and proved to me that I was to be grateful in every season – good or bad, as He remains faithful, sufficient, and good. He alone knows what is best for me. And He also provided a wife for me, Manou. We got married on December 28th, 2021.”

As we came back from honeymoon, I enquired the Lord if He wanted me to consider other activities. I remembered hearing and reading about Madagascar 3M and Therismos, a company that has similar visions and desires to mine. So, I contacted Faly, just in case they needed someone and here I am. I am thrilled to be part of TIC.”

Please join me in praying for Mpitily as he embarks in this new season of his life and ministry, and for Therismos Investment Company to be blessed by the Lord to fuel His harvest.

It all started one summer in a Historical Theology class at The Master’s Seminary. I was sitting next to this guy who I thought was the coolest kind of nerd as I heard he was the one developing dank summary memory sheets for Hebrew vocabulary and grammar rules. I had to get to know him. Then I found out he loves dad jokes, 90s rap, and missions.

A match made in heaven. 😁

Then we met his family and found out his wife is even cooler than he is (sorry Dave 😝), and they have those 4 very cute blond girls, 3 of which are almost exactly the same age as our daughters. Another match made in heaven.

We shared our ministry vision with them and unapologetically mentioned that we are looking for teammates. Next thing we know, they come for a exploratory trip 2 days after we returned home in August 2017. We were able to show them some of the realities of life and ministry in Madagascar, and as they left, we actually thought we would never hear from them again. 

We were wrong. The Lord placed on their heart a burden for the Malagasy people and a desire to be involved in training men for a life-long ministry of the Word. 🙏🏽 

The Salt’n’Pepper duo was formed. 😎 Pepper and I 🙄 started to pray together, dream together, and plan together. We have seen our plans delayed by the whole pandemic thing and yet know that now is God’s perfect timing. 

Today, the Ellingsons are flying the 11,063 miles between Los Angeles and Antananarivo to come serve the Lord with us here in Madagascar. What a great sacrifice they are making for the sake of the Gospel. They are leaving family and friends behind, coming to a new culture, 2 new languages (French and Malagasy) and the weirdest teammates they could have picked. 

Please pray for them as they transition to – literally – the other side of the world. As I write this article, they are at the airport, ready to board the plane, one hour away from departure.

Please pray for them individually and as a family to settle well, learn the language quick and to be mighty tools in the hands of the Lord here in Madagascar. 🙏🏽

We love them so much and are thrilled to have them here with us. 

“…so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 3:10

The mystery has been revealed. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Tim 1:15) Astounding truth! God became man; the man Christ Jesus who knew no sin became sin. Jews and Gentiles now can become the righteousness of God through the God-Man who lived a perfect life and died a perfect death. 

Another astounding truth: He has chosen, called, saved and appointed the church to proclaim this message! And when the church does, all cosmic powers marvel at the wisdom of God!

A new year starts today by God’s amazing grace. My prayer is that the wisdom of God be made manifest in the proclamation, testimony, activities and involvement of the church in this fallen world. 

May those who have been redeemed by Christ testify in words and deeds to God’s wise plan of salvation. May we bring the HOPE of the Gospel to those who desperately need it. 

God’s wisdom is magnified when the church:

• Proclaims the Gospel with Boldness (Eph 3:12a): in an era when any conviction is considered bigotry, the church must more than ever be the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim 3:15). At individual level, and as a community, the church must be busy with what it has been primarily redeemed for: to be disciples of Christ calling others to become disciples of Christ. 

How to apply this in 2022? Prayerfully think of 3 people you would like to share the Gospel to this year. Regularly engage with them as the Lord allows and continually pray for their salvation. Pray also for “spontaneous” opportunities, people that cross your path to whom you can be light. 

• Displays Absolute Dependance (Eph 3:12b): May we individually and corporately pray more than we ever had. May we realize even more that in this fight, we need constant communication with our general. May we realize that prayer must be the heartbeat of everything we do. Friends, every great endeavor to glorify God starts on your knees. Your personal life, the life of the church, missions and evangelism, everything! What are the new resolutions you set for yourself this year? Being salt and light in the world? Fight injustices, such as abortion? Transformation of the world you live in? A God-honoring marriage? Being God-honoring in the workplace? It all starts on your knees. 

How to apply this in 2022? Have you considered starting a prayer journal? Have you considered seriously using the prayer app that has been on your phone since long ago? Humble people pray (1 Pet 5:6-7). May we humble ourselves before our God. 

• Displays Absolute Confidence (Eph 3:13): Afflictions are many in a fallen world. The global pandemic continues to bring its share of hardships to many people around the world. But God is still on His throne (Isa 6:3). His purposes still cannot be thwarted; He still does whatever He wishes according to His promises. He will prevail. He will finish the good work He started in us. He will return to reign and make everything right.  Afflictions and persecution sometime even accelerate the process of sanctification. He works all things for our eternal good and His glory. In that, we can rest. 

How to apply this in 2022? Choose to put on biblical-worldview lenses as you look at the news, think about your future, make daily choices. Let the Bible dictate how you live, not public opinions or governmental mandates. This year may be a good time for you to seek to develop your understanding of the Bible and how it applies to present circumstances? It may be a year for you to learn to contend for the faith, “…being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear.” (1 Pet 3:15)

May He be enthroned as King in our lives as we submit every area of our lives to His supreme care. 

When our lives manifest boldness, dependance and confidence, the whole universe marvels at the wisdom of our God. May we be honorable tools in the hands of our Wise God! 

Happy new year!