A Seventh-day Adventist delegation has met senior Malagasy government officials over five days in Antananarivo, presenting the Church's contribution to health, education, and community development, and seeking closer partnership with public institutions.
The delegation was led by Dr. Pako Mokgwane, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) Director for the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID), accompanied by Indian Ocean Union Conference (IOUC) leaders, and visited from 25 to 29 August 2026.
Engagements included the Minister of Public Security, the Minister of Justice, the Police Commissioner, and the Prefect of Police of Antananarivo, alongside a courtesy visit to General Marcellin Zafitasondry. The delegation also met three Seventh-day Adventist Members of Parliament: Maurice Lucien Randriarison, Arsène Ratolojanahary, and Liva Zavamanitra Andriamiharivolamena.
Discussions centred on four areas of the Church's community work: enditnow, the global Adventist initiative against violence and abuse; Youth Alive, which promotes resilience and substance-abuse prevention among young people; the humanitarian and development work of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA); and youth education.
"Our message to government is that the Church wants to be a responsible and constructive partner in society," Mokgwane said. "Religious liberty gives people the freedom to live their faith, but that faith must also translate into service. When we promote health, protect vulnerable people, educate children, empower young people and respond to humanitarian needs, we are defending human dignity and contributing to the development priorities of the nation."
The visit coincided with large-scale health outreach. From 25 to 28 August, Adventist World Radio (AWR), working with church and health professionals under the Madagascar for Christ initiative, ran health expos and medical outreach activities that delivered free health services to more than 9,000 patients.
Mokgwane also presented the Church's preventive health programmes, including NEWSTART and CELEBRATIONS, which promote nutrition, exercise, rest, and healthy relationships as means of reducing lifestyle-related disease. The Church's network of schools and healthcare institutions was highlighted as a further contribution to education, skills development, and healthcare in the country.
The government engagements followed a PARL Advisory held on 25 August, which brought together PARL directors from across the Indian Ocean Union Conference. Mokgwane provided training on PARL's responsibilities and presented the SID PARL Strategic Plan, with directors discussing how to build relationships with government authorities and help public officials better understand the Church's work. The advisory established a shared direction for PARL across the Union's territory.
The visit concluded on Sabbath, 29 August, when communication and PARL leaders and members from across Antananarivo gathered at Ivato Seventh-day Adventist Church for training. Emphasis was placed on OneVoice27, and on mobilising members to use communication and digital platforms to share the gospel and tell the story of how the Church serves its communities.
The Madagascar engagements form part of a wider pattern of Adventist PARL activity across the Division in recent weeks, following an audience with Angola's National Assembly President in Luanda, a State House meeting with Republic of Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema, and courtesy visits to the Malawi Police Service and Blantyre City Council.
