The people told the story of the Magi visiting Herod and the need for the Holy Family to flee from Herod.
Worship at Santa Patrika Cathedral, Toliara, on 30th December 2018.
Category Archives: General
A Message of Thanksgiving.
To those of you have supported our ministry for many years, we offer our deepest thanks! The work on the ground in the mission field would not be accomplished without your dedicated prayer and financial support.
To those of you who are only now or recently learning of the McGregors and the work we do in the name of Christ, we hope the stories you will read in our newsletter will move you to make a commitment to this ministry. Thank you.
In 2006, the Holy Spirit sent me, along with my wife Rev. Patsy, to Toliara to serve as Bishop for this southwestern area of Madagascar. At the time there were only a handful of churches and a few followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. With the faithful and generous support you have provided to our ministry, we have seen the Diocese of Toliara grow to more than 90 churches with a complement of church leaders who have been raised up from among the people. All of this requires a great deal of hard work: planting churches and training followers to become leaders. It also requires a good deal of financial resources to make it happen. Where the Diocese of Toliara is today, with its many churches, clergy and lay leaders, a beautiful cathedral recently dedicated (dedication of cathedral video), and more and more Malagasy deciding to follow Jesus each day, would never have happened without the prayerful support of each of you – in your personal devotions, naming us in the Prayers of the People during weekly worship services in so many parishes around the world, and especially through your generous financial support of Patsy’s and my ministry here in the Diocese of Toliara.
Our biggest challenge for tomorrow is to Secure the Future by raising up leaders:
• through intentional Discipleship Programs,
• through Theological Education, including collegiate degrees for all clergy, continuing education and training for clergy, and diplomas in evangelism for the evangelists.
Because the Diocese has taken the initiative to support theological higher education, what we see today is…
- Evangelist Antsa, Evangelist Gaston, Catechist Zafy and three others who are studying in preparation for ordination.
- The Ven. Hery and The Rev. Victor who are enrolled in non-residential college programs for Bachelors and PhD diplomas in theology.
- Seventeen students in the Evangelism Training program.
Altogether, we have 26 students enrolled in theological education. Six of these are to become ordained priests – which will double the current number of parish priests!
At the same time the Diocese has many programs to aid the people of this area of Madagascar. Especially notable is the education the diocese is providing for children, the Days for Girls program which has transformed the lives of so many women and girls, and other programs. You can learn more about this dynamic program in our newsletter. https://dioceseoftoliara.org/
Patsy and I thank you for your dedicated giving in support of our ministry. Through the abundance of God’s gifts in your life, we ask that you renew your commitment to this ministry – and perhaps even consider increasing your gift for 2019.
If you are just now becoming acquainted with the McGregor ministry and all the exciting developments in the Diocese of Toliara, we pray the Holy Spirit will touch your heart with a desire to enable more good works. Please consider making a financial commitment to support this ministry and bring more Malagasy to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Serving Christ Together
To make a gift in support of the ministry of the McGregors, please use the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders (SAMS) secure website: https://give.sams-usa.org/missionary/todd-and-patsy-mcgregor. Use https://give.sams-usa.org/project/diocese-of-toliara to make a gift in support of the education programs, Days for Girls, or other programs. Or call 724.266.0669 to make your gift.
Banner for St Philip’s
Earlier this year, Bishop Todd held a competition for the local churches; the prize for which was a specially commissioned banner made by Sue Babbs.
Santa Filipo in Ambohitsabo (just off the road from Toliara to Ifaty) won the competition. The banner was designed to be the same size as their other three banners and depict the encounter between St Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts chapter 8 – the start of Christianity in Africa.
It was presented to the Church on Sunday November 18th.
This photo also shows the new tiled floor in the church building. The members of the church raised all the funds for this themselves.
Worship with the Malagasy Church at St George’s, Paris
PRP Members attending the 2018 Annual Board Meeting:
Todd & Patsy McGregor, Walter Jones, Sue Babbs, Lydia Corbett, Joyce Fletcher, John Griffin, Paul Simmons, Cheryl & Will Harman
After the end of the People Reaching People board meeting at St Mark’s, Versailles, several members of the board went with Bishop Todd and Rev. Patsy McGregor to the monthly Saturday evening service at St George’s, Paris (just around the corner from L’Arc de Triomphe). We were given a very warm welcome by the Malagasy, many of whom told us they know Bishop Samitiana.
Several members of the English speaking congregation at St George’s also joined the Malagasy and us in worshipping God together.
Bishop Todd preached a very lively sermon in both Malagasy and English.
Afterwards Rev. Patsy gave a Powerpoint presentation on the work in the Diocese of Toliara. 
EASTER MONDAY AT THE BEACH IN TOLIARA
Jacky Lowe writes: I am still in transition and getting organized. Most things take much longer here so one has to be patient. I go to Antananarivo the capital on Wednesday 11th to work on my visa.
A group of people from St. Patrick’s Cathedral went to the beach on Easter Monday as it is a holiday here. We all paid a fee to ride the taxi bus which was 3 hours late. We finally set off at 10:30 am for a 1 hour drive with about 40 people in the taxi bus I sat in the front with the driver and Holy, Bishop Samitianas’ wife. It was a hot & dusty ride but not unpleasant. Dust has a whole new meaning here as there is little grass and the soil is a fine brown like sand that blows in the wind.
The beach was very different. I think all the people in Toliara were there! Zafy, the person who helped organize the trip, had rented a covered space so we did not have to sit in the sun, which was wonderful.
Easter Greeting
International Women’s Day in Toliara – March 8th, 2018
We celebrated Women’s Day, March 8th, in Toliara with over 1,000 women gathered for prayer at the Stadium.
Rev. Noel led the service, Bishop Todd spoke well of the women who have influenced his life, some of the Time to Dance songs were performed, and Patsy delivered the sermon in Malagasy. All in all, God was glorified.
Anglican Bishops meet Malagasy President Hery
Bishops of the Anglican Church of the Indian Ocean met with Malagasy President Hery to discuss reconciliation in the country this week. 
The photo was taken during their visit to the presidential Palace Iavoloha.
Ash Wednesday 2018 at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
First Pilgrimage to the Diocese of Toliara, July 12th -26th, 2018
Regretfully we are postponing this pilgrimage to another year. Contact Sue Babbs suebabbs385@gmail.com if you would be interested in coming on it another time.
We invite you to join us on the first ever Pilgrimage to the Diocese of Toliara, Madagascar with Bishop Todd and Rev. Patsy McGregor.
Come explore the beauties of God’s creation in one of the world’s loveliest but poorest countries. See fascinating rocks and minerals, beautiful woodcarvings, weaving and embroidery, and wildlife, trees and plants unique to Madagascar, such as lemurs, chameleons, baobabs, the spiny forest and more!
Find out why the Malagasy are drawn to Jesus and what their faith means to them. Learn about the joy in their lives despite the challenges they face.
Simon and Sue Babbs (who are on the board of People Reaching People and visited the Diocese of Toliara in 2014, 2015 and 2016) will be facilitating this pilgrimage from Antananarivo to Toliara in the last two weeks of July 2018.
From the evening of July 14th onwards, Bishop Todd or Rev Patsy McGregor will be with the tour each day, providing spiritual guidance and insights into the lives of the Malagasy.
Please contact Sue Babbs suebabbs385@gmail.com with any questions.
More information and details of the itinerary can be found here: Pilgrimage 2018 Brochure
(The pdf of the brochure can be printed as a booklet on letter paper, if you wish).