Bittersweet update

We received Dan and Elizabeth Turk's spring update with shock and sadness. Through their update we learned that PCUSA has ended all of its mission co-worker positions. As we struggle to learn more and figure out what this means we invite you to pray for the Turks, the people they serve, our missions committee, and the PCUSA. Dan and Elizabeth's letter is below.

FJKM’s Holistic Ministry

Dan and Elizabeth Turk

Spring 2025

Dan and Elizabeth Turk

Dear friends,

Greetings!

This is a bittersweet letter to write. It is our last letter to you as PC(USA) mission co-workers serving with PC(USA)’s partner church in Madagascar, the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM).

A moment of fellowship - Elizabeth and members of Tsaramiakatra community where Faith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee helped finance a gravity-fed water system 18 years ago.

As many of you may know, PC(USA) merged the Office of General Assembly with the Presbyterian Mission Agency into the Interim Unified Agency (IUA) in October 2024. This has led to the restructuring of some PC(USA) ministries. The IUA is embarking on a new pattern for global engagement with PC(USA)’s international partners. PC(USA) will no longer be sending mission co-workers as all mission co-worker positions have concluded. Some mission co-workers have been invited to participate in the new model where global ecumenical liaisons will interact with PC(USA)’s international partners. Sadly, we ended service on March 24, 2025.

The Joy of the Lord - Pastor Soja Arthur, FJKM synod president in southern Madagascar, with members of local church.

Despite our sadness in concluding our time as PC(USA) mission co-workers, we give thanks for all that has been accomplished and for your faithful commitment to supporting the former Presbyterian Mission Agency (now the IUA), us, and the FJKM over these many years. FJKM’s approach to mission is holistic. For the FJKM, preaching the Gospel goes hand in hand with meeting the needs of the people. We began serving with the FJKM in 1996 in response to FJKM’s request to PC(USA) for health and environmental specialists. Since then, we have worked alongside FJKM colleagues to design and carry out programs to address the health concerns, poverty, and biodiversity crisis facing the people and country of Madagascar. Here’s a small snapshot of what we ( you, the FJKM, the former Presbyterian Mission Agency (now the IUA) staff, including Dan and Elizabeth) have been able to do together over the last two decades.

Training farmers at the Mango Palace - Helping farmers get out of poverty by training them how to graft and propagate some of the world's best fruit tree varieties

• Supporting community health work in over 100 rural communities, including training over 300 community health volunteers

• Helping train personnel and equip over 40 FJKM rural dispensaries for 20 years

• Accompanying the FJKM AIDS & Epidemics Committee as it fights the spread of HIV and COVID

• Helping the Antanetibe community get out of poverty by growing tangerines

• Establishing the Mango Palace, a fruit tree center for training farmers in fruit tree production and propagation using some of the world's best fruit tree varieties

• Promoting native trees and working around protected areas to help protect Madagascar’s unique biodiversity

• Building water catchment systems and supporting schools in southern Madagascar

  
  

Ministering with you and the PC(USA) by living here in Madagascar and taking part in the daily joys and struggles that the church and people face has been an honor. We have learned so much about what it means to be a faithful follower of Christ from our FJKM siblings in Christ. Witnessing the joy of Christians in southern Madagascar whose lives are so difficult has deepened our understanding of what the joy of the Lord really means. We hope you have been inspired as you have heard about the lives and faithfulness of the FJKM and its members and partnered with them.

Taking tangerines to market - tangerine growing helped get Antanetibe community out of poverty.

We encourage you to continue partnering with the FJKM and supporting its ministries. The Madagascar Mission Network is a Presbyterian network of churches and others who support the ministries of the FJKM. Being a part of the Madagascar Mission Network is a wonderful way to support the FJKM and keep up to date on its ministries.

Please be in prayer for the FJKM as it holds its General Assembly this August in southern Madagascar.

FKJM President getting tested for HIV - Fighting HIV/AIDS through testing, education, and reducing discrimination.

Please continue to pray for the people of Madagascar as the poverty rate continues to increase.

For the present, we are continuing to serve with the FJKM at its request. Please pray for us as we discern long-term plans. One great joy coming up is our son Robert’s wedding to Tatiana Gonzalez on May 18th in Chicago. Prayers for the wedding are also appreciated.

Offering quality care in rural dispensaries - Assisting rural dispensaries as they address common killers like malaria, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high maternal mortality.

For future email correspondence, please use daniellturk@hotmail.com. Thank you for your steadfast support of us and the FJKM church. Many wonderful things have been accomplished together in God’s name. To God be the Glory!

Peace in Christ,

Dan and Elizabeth