Mary Sherwood's Life & Ministry Story

I was born to godly parents who knew Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Jesus was part of our family life, and I grew up learning to love Him. At twelve years of age, in the context of a Christian girl’s camp, I made a conscious decision to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. To the extent that I understood, I believe that I did follow Him from that day.

 

 

I was very active and committed as a Christian teen-ager and young woman. I read God’s Word and had a beginning prayer life. I know now that I lacked good sound biblical teaching within my church and had not been taught and guided in knowing how to make Jesus Lord of every part of my life...or perhaps I did not “hear” that teaching! Also, I was not introduced to the real power of prayer and who the Holy Spirit is.

 

As a young woman and mother, I was exposed to several influences which caused me to grow spiritually and experience more fully the living reality of Jesus Christ. At the same time, I became involved in an ecumenical group of ladies who were spiritually hungry and renewed in the Holy Spirit. We planned and carried out renewal days and retreats. This was a beautiful growing experience for me.

 

I became a member of the Order of St. Luke and this is where, I believe, I began to really experience the healing power of prayer and the Holy Spirit’s power and presence. For nineteen years I was an organist choir director and experience the wonderful power of God through my music ministry.

 

From 1970-1975, my husband went to a university. Four of those years were 300 miles away, and he returned home for a visit every other weekend. For one year I fell apart, trying to raise three small children, keep a house under control, teach enough piano lessons to provide money for university fees, etc. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, I quickly became a mess! And then, in my great need, I experienced a new dimension of my God! He healed me, and I discovered the power of prayer in my life. I began to know what faith, trust, and believing in God was really about! I grew very close to Jesus. He carried me through the coming years. 

 

In 1981, we moved to a new city. I went cheerfully and willingly, but it was difficult because I was uprooted from soul friends, my music world, all that my church and ministry had meant in terms of service, and this left a great void in my life. However, God is good and it was no time until He had begun to rebuild my life with beautiful opportunities for service.

 

In February 1982, I received a further powerful infilling of the Holy Spirit which sent me on a marvelous adventure in discovering God’s Word and a fresh glimpse of the power of really walking and communing with Him.

 

In September 1982, my last child left for further education elsewhere...in a short time, my marriage fell apart and was later dissolved. I was ALONE! My life fell apart. I would not have believed it possible to experience such pain and hurt, rejection, tears and darkness.

 

Then began a process of deep inner healing. With so much “junk” in my life, I temporarily lost God’s wonderful peace and the lovely gift He had given me during my communion with Him. I am grateful that He hung on to me and didn’t discard me! He truly is a God who heals! He put me on His divine “potter’s wheel” and reshaped me into a new vessel. I have learned that Jesus is the ONLY one who will never forsake me, and is the ONLY one I can trust and count on. He gave me a new life with new purpose, meaning and vision. He set me on a new road...a resurrection life! I have never looked back! I now stand on the promises of God and am excited about the new life He has given me.

 

Following His leading from that time, I resigned my teaching career, sold my little house and, feeling a little like Abraham who was willing to follow though God had not shown him exactly where he was to go...joined the Global Teams/AMSC family.

 

In 19985/86, I was privileged to attend Trinity School for Ministry in Pennsylvania for their one-year lay studies program. During this year, I also visited Israel. The whole year was a tremendous experience for me.

 

In November 1987, God led me to accept an assignment to teach at Selwyn College in the Solomon Islands, South Pacific, and later to live with and teach at two Melanesian Sisterhoods. I was there until June 1994. Although there were times of difficult cultural adjustments, etc, for the most part it was a wonderful time of service and personal growth within my faith and spiritual muscles!

 

In the fall of 1994, God re-directed me to Madagascar. I accepted an invitation by Bishop Remi Rabenirina of the Diocese of Antananarivo in Madagascar to go and assist the Mothers’ Union in the establishment and development of a much needed orphanage in that area. This has been a challenging, sobering, and yet exciting venture! I have had to lean on Jesus more than ever before!  God has again been so very faithful and provided everything needed.

 

When I arrived in Madagascar in September 1995, I attended Malagasy language training school. This was a very difficult project for me, but I worked hard and, with God’s help, mastered the language enough to be able to communicate with His people there.

 

In May 1996, a Malagasy couple lent us their country home so that we could begin to receive and raise orphaned/ abused/abandoned/despairing children. This was our home for two years. We called the orphanage “Akany Famonjena” and it is a Mothers’ Union project. We had our official Opening and House Blessing on July 19th, 1996. We began with five precious children. As our numbers grew, this house became too small, and we knew we must build our own permanent, larger facility.

 

In November 1997, we began to build on a property approximately one hectare in size (about 2 ½ acres). We moved into the new house on June 6th, 1998 and June 13th was our official “Grand Opening and Blessing” of the NEW Akany Famonjena facility.” What a prayer come true!! What joy and excitement and gratefulness!!! My life in Madagascar those years was very much a faith adventure but God continued to be so faithful...and His people in Madagascar and in Canada and the United States also responded in faithfulness.

 

At Akany Famonjena, we presently have a Directress and house-parents who care for 36 precious Malagasy children. Our vision and prayer is to raise these children to be strong, healthy, educated, honest, Christian Malagasy citizens. We believe that the Akany is God’s will. To Him be the glory.

 

We are also reaching out to many needy children and young women in another district of the capital city, Antananarivo, where poverty robs children of health, education and hope...and where active Christian love and witness is so very much needed. Although land was purchased in 2003 and the construction of a tiny temporary wooden shack allowed us to begin accepting children, our actual  new Akany Tafita Center was completed and officially opened in May 2005. During the day-time hours, we now teach, feed and care for 60 children. The influence of this ministry has reached out very positively into the surrounding community.  The Akany Tafita Board continues to develop the Center’s programs for children and women. There remain many possibilities for ministry and outreach at this Akany Tafita Center.

 

God has called, inspired, equipped and led His people! Our God has honored the  obedient responses and generosity of His people in Madagascar and in Canada and the United States. The result? An orphanage and an inner city outreach center have been established and developed!!

 

God willing, sponsors will continue to enthusiastically support the ministry in Madagascar so that Akany Famonjena and Akany Tafita will be kept alive, strong and effective.