Who Says Dreams Don't Come True?

Bishop Todd McGregor

Growing up in a Roman Catholic family, our Saturdays were always set aside for watching Notre Dame football. As high school graduation approached, I thought it would be awesome for me to attend the University of Notre Dame. The truth was that Notre Dame wasn’t financially or academically viable at that point in my life. Nonetheless, I have continued to be an avid Notre Dame sports enthusiast even while in Madagascar.

In fact, attending a Notre Dame football game was on my bucket list, so Patsy and I headed to South Bend last fall to fulfill that dream.



Bishop Todd and Rev. Patsy at a University of Notre Dame football game in Fall 2022


As word got out that we were heading to Indiana, Notre Dame alumni suggested a few things we must do on our visit, such as take a tour and visit with a few key people: one person from the President’s office and another from the Inspired Leadership Initiative program (ILI).

While we expected to enjoy the first visit, we didn’t know what to expect from the second. As the Lord would have it, our visit with the co-founder of ILI was deeply moving. Chris Stevens (co-founder of Keurig) shared details about the program designed for professionally successful people who have invested 20-30 years in their careers and now have no idea what's in store for their next act of life. ILI is a nine-month residential program created to help professionals discover, desire and discern what their next step will be.

He explained that, if admitted, I would take the main core course requirements and participate in the Notre Dame community. When Patsy asked about financial aid, he said this should not play into our decision making. If you get invited, this will be taken care of.

After meeting with Chris, Patsy and I went to a local restaurant  to discuss this excellent opportunity for me to study at the University of Notre Dame. When Patsy asked what  I thought about the ILI informal interview, my eyes began to water up and tears ran down my face. I was filled with so much emotion all at once: joy, excitement, gratefulness, humility, and peace that I couldn’t talk. God was opening up the door for me to attend Notre Dame 42 years after I initially wanted to attend. Finally, the only words that came out of my mouth were “this could really happen”.

This past spring I completed the multi-part application process for the Inspired Leadership Initiative program and was invited to interview for the program. The result? "Guess who’s going to the University of Notre Dame this fall on sabbatical?"

Our God is an awesome God who never forgets our dreams and deepest desires!

My Mentorship Relationship with Bishop Todd
by Joshua Loewen-Samuels

The author with Bishop Todd.

When I first met Bishop Todd in September 2021, I didn’t anticipate mentorship. I was simply curious to learn more about global missions. That’s why I felt highly valued when Bp Todd offered to speak with me on an ongoing basis to assist my discernment as a newly ordained priest. It was through our conversations that I discovered a surprising qualitative dimension to Bp Todd’s mentorship. Through his Christ-like humility and attentive listening I was able to recognize my Savior’s voice speaking into multiple areas of my life.

So even though missions was the presenting occasion, it became apparent that God had placed Bp Todd in my life for significantly more. I knew that Bp Todd’s mentorship was born from genuine love in the Spirit when he drove some four hours to visit me in my parish context and to spend time with my family.

I later experienced hardship in my curacy when the relationship with my supervising priest broke down over a theological and political disagreement. Consequently, I was no longer keeping office at the church. Because of this traumatic event I faced intense discouragement. Fortunately, Bp Todd was there to listen and pray with me. While the conversation-piece of our meetings shifted away from global missions, he was unwavering in his attentiveness. This was greatly dignifying at a time when I felt down and out. And because Bp Todd shared vignettes of his own experience of difficulty in life and ministry, I discovered that we have far more in common than I originally imagined.

It wasn’t just serendipity; only God could have coordinated this encouraging relationship. As I enter a new and exciting phase of parish ministry in August, I am grateful for the stabilizing and sympathetic force that mentorship has been. I consider it to be God’s grace in my life, a demonstration of the Lord’s faithfulness through the provision of godly counsel, comfort with accountability, perseverance in discipleship, and joy in friendship. Thanks be to God!  

Lambeth Reunions

You have probably heard about the Lambeth Conference, which is convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury every ten years. All full-time bishops in good standing are invited to this ten day conference. Although I am not currently a bishop with diocesan responsibilities, I traveled to the University of Kent in Canterbury, England during the Lambeth Conference in order to visit with a number of bishops.

I was particularly thrilled to be reunited with my dear friends Bp. Samitiana and Mme Holy from the Diocese of Toliara. When we talked on the phone the night before we met, Bp. Samitiana was breathless when he heard my voice because he was so filled with joy. I felt the same way when we hugged each other on campus. It had been 19 months since we had seen each other when Patsy and I left the Diocese of Toliara. So much has happened since then. Bp Samitiana was elected Diocesan bishop and the young diocese continues to grow under his leadership. Mme Holy continues to be the education coordinator which now sponsors over 160 children. It was so wonderful to catch up in person and to pray together.

During my visit, I was also able to meet with Bp. Hall Speers and his wife, Sarah from the Diocese of Mahajanga, Madagascar and continue our planning.(See article above by Laura Verinder).

After spending time in at a US conference in February with two other bishops Bp. Vicente (Mozombique) and Bp. Godfrey (NorthWestern Tanzania), we set time to visit again in Canterbury to discuss possible ways to partner together. I am planning to visit their dioceses next year and are planning a clergy and lay training on evangelism and leadership next summer or early fall. I have committed myself to raise $4,000 for each conference. Please also consider assisting us in these new endeavors. You can send donations to SAMS and designate in the  memo section McGregors project Mozombique or Tanzania.

Todd with Bp. Godfrey (left) and Bishop Vincente and wife (right)
 

 I also had the opportunity to meet briefly with Archbishop James Wong from the Anglican Church of the Indian Ocean, Bp. Jaona (Diocese of Antananarivo), Bp, Gilbert (Diocese of Fianarantsoa), Bp. Jean Paul (Toamasina) and Rev. Berthier (provincial secretary who is working on a PHD at Cambridge).

I feel so blessed to have had this time of fellowship and planning with these bishop friends. The Lambeth Conference is such a meaningful time for bishops to worship together, gather in small groups to study the Bible together, fellowship together, and  share meals. Even though they may not agree on gender issues and how the Bible is interpreted,  there was much they did agree--mission, evangelism, environmental issues, persecution of the church, liturgy and etc. By coming together and experiencing one another, all were better appreciate the body of Christ. Most people whom I talked with came away with a very positive attitude towards the Anglican Communion.

Bishop Todd's Upcoming Ministry Schedule

September 8-10       Fay wedding in Cleveland, OH
September 26-30     SAMS retreat and New Wineskins Conference in  Ridgecrest, NC. Both Patsy  and Todd will be giving presentations, and Patsy will be doing a book launch and signing of her 4^th book of the Missionary Series called Madagascar: The Window of My Soul.
September 30           Consecration of Doug Scharf in the Diocese of SW Florida from the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Tequesta, FL
November 12           St. David’s Glenview, IL Rev. Graham Smith’s Memorial
November 13           St. David’s Glenview, IL

Prayer Requests

• Pray for Todd's experience as a fellow at the University of Notre Dame in the Inspired Leadership Initiative
• Pray for Patsy and Todd while they are apart, Todd in South Bend and Patsy in her  continued work at St. Mary's, Stuart, FL
• Pray for Todd’s church visitations
• Pray for Todd as he continues to mentor and coach current and potential missionaries
• Pray for the Malagasy and Mauritian performers coming to Florida in the Spring to perform Miaraka: A Time to Dance
• Pray for funding for the performers coming from Madagascar and Mauritius
• Pray for discernment with three new diocesan partnerships in Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania