The McGregors return to the US

After almost 30 years of ministry in Madagascar and Kenya, Bishop Todd and Rev. Patsy McGregor returned to the United States in December of 2020 and their ministry is based in the United States. Todd continues to be a full-time missionary with SAMS and Patsy is serving as Director of Spiritual Formation at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Stuart, FL, while continuing as an associate missionary. Read on to hear more about their transition.

After arriving in the United States in December 2020, Bishop Todd and Rev. Patsy moved into their new home and quarantined after their trip before traveling to Georgia to meet their newest grandson.

Bishop Todd shares his feelings about leaving Toliara, Madagascar and settling into their new home in Florida in the following article.

Jehovah Jireh: The Lord who Provides

By Bishop Todd McGregor

Leaving Madagascar was the most difficult thing I have ever done. After nearly 30 years of full-time missionary service and ministry, Patsy and I left Madagascar in December 2020 to begin a new ministry in southeast Florida.

The emotional, physical and mental implications of leaving were overwhelming. It was incredibly difficult and sad to leave friends and coworkers who had impacted our lives and ministry. We packed meaningful personal items, such as pictures, gifts and tokens to take with us, reminding us of our friends and good times in Madagascar.

But, what should we do with the larger, more expensive items we owned such as our Ford Ranger, the Honda motorbike, furniture, appliances, TV, sporting equipment, kitchen supplies, and more? Finally, we decided that we would give all these items away in order to bless others. Most of these went to the diocese, while others went to clergy, workers, and friends.

At the beginning of our missionary careers, we learned it is better to give than receive. We have now given away our belongings three times. It hasn’t become easier, but we have become accustomed to trusting in God and His provision. God has provided for our needs in the past, and this most recent move was no exception.

We planned our move to southeast Florida, buying a home in Hobe Sound near St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Stuart, FL where Patsy was to begin her new position as Director of Spiritual Formation. We knew that some preparations were being made for us, but we had no idea what to expect.

As we drove into our new community, I said to Patsy, “We aren’t in Madagascar anymore!.” As we drove up to our new home—the first house we have owned and actually lived in—we began going into shock.  We opened the door and walked in a just few feet when we began to cry. We hugged each other and cried for nearly 10 minutes. We thanked the Lord for His provision and for the generosity of His people.

The house was beyond what we could have imagined! We learned that many people had been working behind the scenes to make our house a home. St. Mary’s had set up a registry at Target in Patsy’s name and members of the parish bought household items. Some People Reaching People Board members contacted other area churches and individuals for help in providing furniture and funds for our new home. 

A cleaning crew was brought in to make our new home sparkle. A professional decorator worked on placement of furniture and decorations. One person found furniture on Facebook Marketplace. Another purchased and installed a 55 inch TV.

We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and acts of kindness from so many—some known to us and some unknown. 

Both Patsy and I feel so blessed to be part of communities with such open, loving arms. We became so aware that while we were giving away our possessions in Madagascar, God was already providing our needs back in the US. Just as Abraham declared “Jehovah Jireh”—the Lord Provides—when God provided a ram to be sacrificed, sparing Abraham’s son Isaac, we believe our arrival in Florida is another true story of Jehovah Jirah—The Lord who provides.

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• Pray for Patsy as she recovers from a 5 day hospital stay diagnosed with Viral Meningitis
• Pray for Todd, on sabbatical, as he discerns his next steps in ministry.
• Pray for the McGregor family as they deal with the death of Todd's brother, Mike.