Political upheaval in the island nation of Madagascar may cause increasing disruptions to church work, and has already led to the evacuation of many expatriate employees, say Seventh-day Adventist Church officials in the region. Months of violence between rival political factions, stemming from disputed elections last December, has left more than 40 people dead and the nation’s economy in turmoil.

In keeping with its habit of strict neutrality, the Adventist Church in Madagascar has not entered into the political situation, or supported political riots or marches, says Jean-Emmanuel Nlo Nlo, communication director for the church in the Africa Indian Ocean region.

Pastor Paulo Leitao, president of the church in the Indian Ocean Union Mission, says this neutrality has been recognized and respected. “Due to this line of conduct the Adventist Church is the only church authorized to continue to hold public gatherings and evangelistic efforts,” he reports.

Marlene and Kirby Palmer are two church employees who were evacuated from Madagascar April 23. For the past three years they have worked at Soamanandrariny Adventist Secondary School in Antananarivo Province, but are now staying with family near Seattle, Washington, United States.

“Getting adequate supplies was the big issue,” says Marlene Palmer, who worked in the school’s library. She explains that since the violence began earlier this year, foreign companies have pulled out of the country; blockades of the island’s ports have kept supplies from coming in; and, some internal travel routes have been disrupted by the destruction of key bridges. Even finding enough fuel to drive the 25 miles to the nearest town to buy food for the school’s 71 boarding students was becoming increasingly difficult, she says.

As the conflict grew, school administrators accelerated the school year to finish up on April 19 instead of May 19. “We wanted to get the students out while they were still able to travel,” says Palmer.

Palmer and her husband, who headed the school’s computer science department, are anxious to return to their post and tentatively plan to be back in time for the September 30 start to the new school year. But Palmer acknowledges that they must wait to see how the political situation unfolds, and get clearance from church administrators and the U.S. State Department. “Please pray for the people of Madagascar and for the work of the church there,” she urges.

Nlo Nlo likens the situation in Madagascar to a “volcano waiting to erupt.” Even in the capital, there is an extremely high rate of unemployment, with many people facing a scarcity of food, fuel, and electric power, he says.

There are more than 67,000 Adventists in Madagascar, worshiping in some 280 churches. Adventists in the country operate a hospital, two clinics, and numerous dispensaries, along with two schools and a publishing house.