Depot points the way for the future By Hal Noss, freelance
photojournalist
ANTSIRABE, Madagascar — The
Bible Society depot in Antsirabe is one of the great successes of the
Malagasy Bible Society (MBS). The MBS divides
Madagascar into seven zones, each of which, in time, will have its own
Bible Society depot, and it wants the Antsirabe depot to be the model
for the rest. Of the government’s 111 administrative
districts, 78 now have volunteer MBS District Committees composed of
local church leaders and other influential people from the local community.
Through close communication with the committees, the MBS is better attuned
to the communities’ needs, and with their help the planned MBS depots
will establish a number of distribution centers within their area of
responsibility. The active participation of the local population in the work of the MBS through volunteering is crucial to the effective distribution of Bibles. “If we do not develop volunteers,” says Marc Rakoto, General Secretary of the MBS, “then the Bible Scriptures will stay at the Bible depots or at their distribution centers.” SuccessHoby Andriamoria is in charge of the Bible Society depot in Antsirabe, and the man behind its success. Mr Andriamoria personifies the practical application of the vision which he is realising in Antsirabe. A humble, sincere and wise man, he knows his history, his statistics, and an incredible number of people by name. He is a leader, but also a very active participant, and this role gives him such good connections to the Antsirabe community that he has been able to share the Malagasy Bible Society’s vision with them. In consequence, a large section of the population of Antsirabe is working with him to help make his vision a reality. The Malagasy Bible Society opened a distribution center in Antsirabe in 1989. In 1991 this became a depot. In 1995 Mr Andriamoria began working for the depot full time, and the depot began working more closely with the local churches. “The year 1995 was a kind of a turning point,” Mr Andriamoria explains, “when the depot became legitimate in the eyes of the population of Antsirabe.” With the help of the local churches and church pastors, the depot was able to cover about 80 sq. km. of the Antsirabe area, distributing Bible Society materials to every door and speaking to anyone who was interested. Support“Now we have about 40 volunteers who work for us on a regular basis,” Mr Andriamoria says, “and more than 200 contributing members of our group called ‘Friends of the Bible.’” With a high concentration of churches in this area, the depot now enjoys very strong support from the local community. “All the churches in the local area now purchase their Bibles from us,” he says. “In 2000 we distributed 1,000 Bibles, this year [2001] we will distribute at least 3,000, and with the help of Opportunity 21 (O-21) we hope to distribute from 5,000 to 7,000 Bibles each year.” Asked why there is a continuing need for Bibles, he explains that although families in Antsirabe on average own two Bibles per family now, people in the countryside still need them - though, even when they cost less than US$3.00 each, not all can afford to buy them.
Public transportThe most common means of transporting Bibles from Antananarivo to the depot and from the depot to its distribution center 100 km (60 miles) away is by public transport. Although Mr Andriamoria does not complain about deliveries, it was obvious that the completion of the Central Warehouse in Antananarivo and the purchase of Bible Society vehicles planned in other MBS O-21 projects would help Bible distribution considerably. He plans to set up two more distribution centers in his zone in 2002. Asked about the official provision of transport for the depot, he replies: “Not even a bicycle.” PopularNecessity being the mother of invention, however, the popular Bike for Bibles event held in Antsirabe is treated not only as a fundraising event, but as an opportunity to spread the word of God. Held on a Saturday - market day, the event is widely advertised and banners announcing it are strung across main streets in town. A large number of local churches take part, and at least six organisations, including the Red Cross and the local power utilities, offer ancillary services. Last year approximately 500 cyclists registered and paid to take part, riding through the town to distribute various MBS publications. And the man behind it all was Hoby Andriamoria. Displayed on the bookcase in the sitting room of the apartment where he lives with wife and young daughter is a book entitled My People Are Destroyed For a Lack of Knowledge. It is there, it seems, as an inspiration to him in his work. (This article was
written before the present political problems in Madagascar arising
from the presidential election in December, recent reports of which
are summarised in the following item more...
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