| Chapter 1: | The Contribution of Rainisoalambo to the Indigenization of the Protestant Churches in Madagascar |
These texts are considered to be the foundation of the healing ministry and to solidify the unity of all revivalists because all of them have inherited these texts from Rainisoalambo and still keep the texts in use in their original form. Thus, this is another way that Rainisoalambo’s legacy is lived out in the life of the churches today.
The revival meetings are distinguished from other meetings by the singing of zafindraony songs. During the time of the missionaries, as discussed previously, changing the European tunes was not allowed. With the revival brought about by Rainisoalambo, Christians in the revival changed the European songs into zafindraony. Even the spiritual feelings during the two kinds of songs are different. At present, the church, operating under indigenous leadership, is free to sing this type of song that was inherited from Rainisoalambo in congregational worship. The number of churches, Reformed and Lutheran, that use the zafindraony in their services has increased in towns, as well as in rural areas.
The Malagasy like the zafindraony. They are used not only in the church or in revival meetings but also when there is a funeral, an evening gathering, or when a Christian family goes on a long trip. Historically, Razaka notes that zafindraony were sung on Wednesdays in Soatanàna as the revivalists were heading out to the fields for cooperative labor.34 They are a part of common working life today as well, in addition to playing a significant role in the context of worship. The use of Christian zafindraony is a key piece of the indigenization legacy that Rainisoalambo brought to the churches.
Lay Leadership Calling and Development: The Role of the Mpiandry
The Protestant churches of Madagascar are deeply graced with a large and growing group of trained lay leaders in the mpiandry, the shepherd leaders of the revival movement. Rasolondraibe mentioned that to become a shepherd, a communicant member, male or female, of the Lutheran or the Reformed churches follows a two-year training program at a designated center.35 This indicates that the training of mpiandry has become an important duty of the Protestant churches. In fact, it has spread by now to the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches as well.