| Malagasy Lutheran Church | |
|---|---|
| Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy | |
 Logo of the FLM | |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Lutheran |
| Leader | Denis Rakotozafy |
| Associations | LWF, ILC, CCCM, AACC, WCC |
| Region | Madagascar |
| Origin | 1950 |
| Congregations | 7,000 in 2023[1] |
| Members | 5,356,456 in 2023[2] |
| Ministers | 1,810 |
| Official website | http://www.flm-foibe.org |
The Malagasy Lutheran Church (Malagasy: Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy, FLM; French: Église luthérienne malgache) is one of the most important Christian churches in Madagascar, established in 1950 by the unification of 1,800 Lutheran congregations in central and southern Madagascar. The oldest of these congregations was founded in the early 19th century with the arrival of missionaries from the Norwegian Missionary Society (NMS).
With almost 4 million baptized members, it is the third largest church in Madagascar and is one of the fastest growing Lutheran churches in the world. The growth is due in part to an indigenous revival movement, known as Fifohazana, that has worked through the church since the early twentieth century. Most of the church leaders are members of the Fifohazana movement.
The FLM also boasts a health care program of nine hospitals and thirteen dispensaries. SALFA, as it is known, is a community-based primary health project with special initiatives that cover child survival, family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Members of the church have also served as missionaries in Cameroon, Papua New Guinea and Thailand.
- ^ "Malagasy Lutheran Church official website". Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy, KMSL Faradofay Report, September 2024