Meet Dr. Faly Ravoahangy, Theologian changing Christian Publishing in Madagascar

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Article By Africa Speaks

3M Publishing is the publishing branch of Madagascar 3M ministry, founded and chaired by theologian and publisher Dr. Faly Ravoahangy. Dr. Ravoahangy’s involvement in Christian literature dates back nearly two decades, when, after graduating as a polyvalent officer in the merchant navy and marine mechanical engineer, he volunteered aboard MV Doulos, the floating bookfair which was then docked in Penang, Malaysia.

He served there for 10 months as a second officer. Later, after starting a family, his life took a new direction away from the maritime industry. He earned a master’s degree and then a doctorate in theology, specializing in textual preaching.The idea of creating the Madagascar 3M ministry came to him after realizing the lack of theological knowledge among the body of Christ in Africa, as well as the poor quality of locally printed books in Madagascar.

3M Publishing was then founded to offer high-quality, affordable Christian books written in clear, accessible language for the Malagasy people. Its aim is also to provide spiritual resources that nourish faith, deepen understanding of the Bible and strengthen believers.

As for Madagascar 3M’s vision, it is to identify and equip the next generation of Malagasy pastors, by providing biblical training through an expository preaching seminary in Madagascar. Pastors are trained in three roles that are at the heart of their vocation: preachers of the Word of God, shepherds of God’s people and servants of God; hence the three M’s for the Malagasy words for preacher (mpitoriteny), shepherd (mpitandrina) and servant (mpanompo).

A New Transformation Objective

3M Publishing house, launched on November 13, 2023 to print high-quality books on demand, publishes three types of books:

  • Books in French, in partnership with the publishing houses ‘Publications Chrétiennes’ (Canada) and ‘BLF Éditions’ (France), which have granted them representation rights in Madagascar.
  • Books translated from French or English into Malagasy by a team of translators.
  • Books in Malagasy written by Malagasy Christian theologians, pastors and teachers.

As well as meeting the demand for quality Christian resources in Madagascar, 3M Publishing is also working to:

  • Promoting a culture of reading in Madagascar;
  • Working with bookshops, local churches, associations and businesses to spread the Good News;
  • Offering a print-on-demand service, 3M Printing, to meet the need for books, brochures, posters, leaflets, magazines and other communication media with precision and quality.

A library was added to the 3M ministry in June 2024.

Among the titles available are French and Malagasy translations of God’s Design for the church and Your Discipleship Manual, by Zambian author and preacher Dr. Conrad Mbewe.

In April 2024, Dr. Ravoahangy took part in an intensive training course on Christian publishing in Cape Town, South Africa, organized by Desiring God Ministries and challenging the traditional approach to publishing in Christian circles. The speakers invited Christian publishers to focus on spreading ideas, referring for example to the Reformation era, when pamphlets helped spread Luther’s ideas throughout Europe.

This workshop was a game-changer for 3M’s publishing, leading to a new transformation objective: to transform lives in Madagascar and beyond through Scripture-centered resources designed to raise and equip Preachers of God’s Word, Shepherds of God’s people, and Servants of Christ in local churches.Dr. Ravoahangy stresses the importance of written resources for the edification of the church.

“The church needs available resources if it is to grow stronger. There is teaching in the church, but we also need to take advantage of the cloud of witnesses who have shared their testimonies with us through books,” he says.

The Challenges of Christian Publishing in French-speaking Africa

In an interview with Africa Speaks in November 2023, on the occasion of the visit to Madagascar of the ship Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating bookshop, Dr. Ravoahangy stated that one of the main obstacles to the realization of publishing projects at Madagascar 3M is the lack of editors.

“We are in great need of a qualified person who will do all the work of revising the manuscripts of local authors or theologians,” he said, pointing to the lack of training opportunities in editing, particularly in the French-speaking countries in Africa. While there are many literary and journalistic training schools to produce good writers, there is still a long way to go in the editing field.

However, Dr. Ravoahangy remains positive about the future, as initial reactions to “3M Publishing and Printing” have already been favourable. Demand is growing, including from Christian associations who want to print training manuals and evangelism materials. Print-on-demand means better quality locally printed books, while avoiding the storage and customs problems associated with importing books.

To ensure the success of the publishing industry in French Africa, he also resounds the need for greater collaboration between countries, so that, for example, books by West African authors would be available in Madagascar and books by Malagasy authors would be available in West Africa.

Africa Speaks was created to serve publishers like Dr. Ravoahangy and to facilitate exchanges between the various players in African Christian publishing. Join our community to network with other professionals, access online forums and the member directory.

 

 

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