A Year of Change in Madagascar

There were big changes to the way PCUSA does world missions in 2025. Our Missions & Evangelism Committee has been working through what these changes mean for us and our mission giving. We remain committed to supporting Dan and Elizabeth Turk, whom we have been in partnership for many years, and their work in Madagascar. We received their year-end update recently, sharing their hope and next steps as they continue their important ministry with a new sending agency, The Antioch Partners.

Elizabeth & Dan Turk

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year and greetings from Madagascar!

This past year 2025 was a year of transition for us, the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM), and the country of Madagascar. We have much to be thankful for. Even in the midst of transition, God gives us hope going forward.

In March 2025, we ended 28 years as PC(USA) mission co-workers when PC(USA)’s Interim Unified Agency closed Presbyterian World Mission and let us and other mission co-workers go. It was a joy and privilege to serve PC(USA) and FJKM during this time. Upon learning that PC(USA) was closing World Mission and letting us go, the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) invited us to continue serving in mission with the FJKM in Madagascar. We accepted as we still felt God’s call to be in Madagascar working with the FJKM. After exploring options, we have joined The Antioch Partners (TAP) as our new sending agency. The Antioch Partners is an

ecumenical mission sending agency that has tax-exempt status. The Outreach Foundation and Frontier Fellowship were instrumental in helping start The Antioch Partners.

On the one hand, not much has changed as we have remained in Madagascar continuing our agricultural, environmental, and health work with the FJKM. The work is going well. On the other hand, a lot has changed because now we need to raise support for our salary, transportation, health insurance, and other items to continue serving in Madagascar. We plan to serve with FJKM for at least 3 more years.

Other New Beginnings

❖ Our son Robert married Tatiana in May 2025 in Chicago

❖ Our daughter Frances will be marrying Emmanuel this June in Orlando.

Celebrating Robert and Tatiana's wedding May 18th in Chicago. (Emmanual, Frances, Robert, Tatiana, Elizabeth, Dan)

❖ The FJKM held its General Assembly this August in Taolagnaro and elected new officers.

❖ There was a government change in Madagascar in October as a result of Gen Z led protests on power outages, water shortages, and rising poverty of the people.

Synod President Soja, outgoing FJKM President Ammi, and newly elected President Zaka at FKJM General Assembly, Taolagnaro, southern Madagascar, August 20, 2025

God has been faithful as we have navigated our family, job, FJKM, and country transitions. All of the support during these transitions has meant a great deal to us.

We would greatly appreciate it if you would consider supporting us in this new chapter of service with the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM). Attached is the form that can be used to send salary support for us via The Antioch Partners. Donations can also be made through the TAP website. Please let us know at daniellturk@hotmail.com when you send contributions so that we can keep track of our

support. For those of you who have already contributed, thank you very much!

There is still much work to be done in Madagascar, and our ministry work with FJKM still needs support as well. Also attached is the form to send project support through The Antioch Partners.

May we all start the new year strengthened and renewed by God’s faithfulness.

Grace and Peace,

Dan and Elizabeth

Dan was invited to make one of only 4 presentation to the General Assembly members, a talk titled "The FKJM and the Preservation of Biodiversity in Madagascar." Both of us were invited to give public presentation on health and the environment.

To learn more about how the Turks have navigated the PCUSA changes see our May 2025

and July 2025 blog posts.