Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2006 A Strategy To Reach Animistic People in Madagascar Jacques Ratsimbason Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Ratsimbason, Jacques, "A Strategy To Reach Animistic People in Madagascar" (2006). Dissertation Projects DMin. 690. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/690 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT A STRATEGY TO REACH ANIMISTIC PEOPLE IN MADAGASCAR by Jacques Ratsimbason Adviser: Bruce Bauer ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: A STRATEGY TO REACH ANIMISTIC PEOPLE IN MADAGASCAR Name of researcher: Jacques Ratsimbason Name and degree of faculty adviser: Bruce Bauer, D.Miss. Date completed: August 2006 Problem The majority of the Malagasy people who live in Madagascar are unreached with the gospel message. A preliminary investigation of current literature indicated that 50 percent of the Malagasy are followers of traditional religions. This present study was to develop a strategy to reach the animistic people with the gospel message. Method This study presents Malagasy people, their social characteristics, population, worldviews, and lifestyles. A study;and evaluation of Malagasy beliefs and practices were developed using Hiebert's model of critical contextualization. Results The study reveals that the Seventh-day Adventist Church must update its evangelistic methods to reach animistic people and finish the gospel commission in Madagascar. Because of this research, strategies are designed to help the Indian Ocean Union Mission to meet the challenges of evangelizing the animistic people. Conclusion Strategies discussed in this dissertation may help the Southern Africa Indian Ocean Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to evangelize the animistic people more efficiently in this century. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary A STRATEGY TO REACH ANIMISTIC PEOPLE IN MADAGASCAR A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Jacques Ratsimbason August 2006 A STRATEGY TO REACH ANIMISTIC PEOPLE IN MADAGASCAR A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Jacques Ratsimbason APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: J u Iij J O , 3L00U Denis Fortin ' Date Approved To my dear wife, Laurette, and my three children Ony, Hoby, and Mahefa 111 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ......................... viii LIST OF T A B L E S ....................................... viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................... ix Chapter 1. Introduction . .............................. 1 Statement of the P r o b l e m ............ 1 Statement of the Project .................... 2 Justification of the Ministry-Focus Project . 2 Methodology ................................ 3 Organization of the Project . 4 2. THE REPUBLIC OF MADAGASCAR ...................... 5 Introduction . 5 Physical Gegraphy of Madagascar .............. 6 Brief History of Madagascar ................. 10 Pre-Colonial and Colonial History of Madagascar (1896-1960) 10 From Independence (1960) to the Present . 11 The Reality of Madagascar Today .......... 13 The Peopling of M a d a g a s c a r ................... 14 The Ethnic Groups of Madagascar .............. 14 Christian Churches in Madagascar ............ 15 Christian Mission Churches ................ 15 Seventh-day Adventist Church .............. 17 Andre Rasamoeline....................... 17 Marius Raspal, M. J. Bureaud, and E. Benezech.......... 18 S c h o o l s ................................. 18 Publishing W o r k ......................... 19 Medical W o r k ............................. 19 Radio W o r k ............................... 20 Historical Perspective ...................... 21 IV 3. MALAGASY VALUES, BELIEFS, AND PRACTICES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR M I S S I O N ................... 27 Traditional Values and Their Expressions in the Malagasy Society ............................... 28 The Fihavanana ............................... 29 The Respect of Traditions .................. 30 The Respect of Elders ...................... 31 The Worship of Ancestors.................... 31 Malagasy Expressions of Their Values ........ 32 Through Myths ............................ 33 Through Proverbs .......................... 35 Through Songs and Dances .................. 36 Through Signs ............................ 37 Implications for Missions . .................... 38 The Christian Leader's Task ............... 39 Power, Truth, and Commitment Encounters . 42 Traditional Beliefs Concerning Morality ........ 50 Malagasy Concepts of Right and Wrong ........ 50 Concepts of Sin and Guilt ................. 50 The Results of S i n ......................... 51 The Solution............................... 52 Implications for M i s s i o n .............. 53 Natural Norms and S i n s ..................... 53 Social Norms and Sins .................... 54 Theological Norms and Sins .................. 56 Malagasy Concepts of Salvation .............. 56 The Church Leader's T a s k ............ 57 Sacrifice in Malagasy Religions .............. 61 Implications for Mission .................... 62 The Foundation of Malagasy Sacrifices . 62 Sacrifice and Salvation in Malagasy C u l t u r e s .................................. 64 The Church Leader's T a s k ....................65 The Stages of Life and the Rites of Passage . 72 Birth R i t e s ................ ..................7 3 Circumcision Rites .......................... 74 In Merina ................................ 7 4 In Antambahoaka .......................... 7 5 Marriage Rites .............................. 76 Funeral Rites ................................ 78 Famadihana among the Merina and the Bet s i l e o ....................................81 Fitampoha in Sakalava .................... 82 Tsanga Tsaina in Antakarana .............. 83 Implications for Mission .................... 84 The Meaning of Life ...................... 84 v Giving Meaning to Death ................... 88 The Christian Leader's Task ............... 89 Malagasy Practices for Gaining a Good Life and Dealing with Misfortune ......................... 95 Ways Malagasy Seek to Ensure a Good Life .... 95 Blessing for Marriage.................... .. 95 Blessing for Building Houses and Villages . 96 Blessing for Building Tombs ................... 98 Blessing for A g r i c ulture ................ 98 Ways Malagasy Try to Avoid Misfortune........... 99 The Vintana (Destiny) ......................... 99 The Fady (Taboos)............................ 101 The Fomba (Habits or Customs)................ 101 The Ombiasy and the Mpanandro (Diviners) . 102 Ways Malagasy Deal with Misfortune ............ 102 Social C auses.......................... 103 Spiritual Causes ........................... 103 Diagnosis.....................................104 Treatment ..................................... 104 Ways Malagasy Seek G u i d a n c e ................. 106 Implications for Mission ..................... 107 The Christian Leaders' Tasks ............... 110 The Perception of God in A n i m i s m ............ 112 Focus on the P r e s e n t ........................ 114 Focus on Power ............................... 116 Fear Plays a Major R o l e ...................... 118 4. SUGGESTED STRATEGY FOR CONTEXTUALIZATION IN THE MALAGASY CONTEXT ......................... 123 Definitions.......................................123 Strategy...........................................123 Contextualization ............................... 126 Need for Contextualization in Contemporary Malagasy...........................................128 Theological Reflection .... 129 A Holistic Theology ....................... 130 A Holistic Gospel ......................... 132 A Holistic Mission ....................... 133 Systematic Theology............. 135 Biblical Theology ........................... 135 MiSsional Theology ......................... 136 Suggested Strategy of Ministry ................... 138 Formal Training ............................... 138 Spiritual Formation for Church Leaders .... 143 Spiritual Formation for Church Members .... 145 vi 5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............ 148 S u m m a r y ...........................................148 Conclusion.........................................150 Recommendations.................. 152 Vision for the F u t u r e .......................... 152 Contextualization ............................ 154 Preliminaries for Evangelization in a Target G r o u p ...........................................155 Appropriate Training ........................ 157 Appendix HISTORICAL NOTES ON ADVENTIST MISSION IN MADAGASCAR.........................................159 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................ 164 V I T A ........................ 179 Vll LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1. Location of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean ........... 7 2. The Six Administrative Provinces of Madagascar ...... 8 3. Ethnic Groups of Madagascar (1976) .................. 16 LIST