Ethiopia Updates – October 2021

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1. God’s hand is still Working Underground

Abdulsamad is a missionary in Muslim countries like Somalia, Somali Land and Djibouti. He is reaching out to thousands of Muslims with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples as we are all called to do.

Just few weeks ago I met him inn Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia and spent good time with him, encouraging him, pray for him and made strategic plan in the coming years. He has planted MBB (Muslim Background Believers) church in the city called Diredawa; one of the cities in Eastern part of Ethiopia close to the boarder of Djibouti and Somalia. The purpose of this church is to disciple, train & equip the Somali MBBs’ so that they will be able to equipped to reach out their own communities.

There is also a place called “Safe House” provided for those persecuted MBBs’ from their own communities due to their faith in Christ. The purpose of this lodging “Safe House” is to protect those MBBs’ who are persecuted from their communities and feel their life in danger. In this place we keep the persecuted MBBs’ for three months so that they will be able to have time for prayers, training and encouragement.

This ministry is so sensitive and we do not show and post pictures just protect our leaders and our MBBs. We thank God for this break through!

2. U4A got acknowledgment and Recognition

We have had our Annual General Assembly meeting in Addis Ababa from September 15 – 17/2021. More than 600 church leaders gathered together for three days’ praising God, celebrating His goodness and faithfulness. We have also heard praise reports and sharing stories and testimonies of how God is doing in our midst even though we have been passing through lots of challenges and hardships as a nation.

Our church (Ethiopia Emmanuel United Church – EEUC) acknowledged and recognized Unite 4 Africa for the faithful partnership in the past and particularly the love and support that has been showed & bestowed to our ministered who are being affected by the Covid – 19 pandemics.

On behalf of U4A, I received the certificate of gratitude and honor from the president of EEUC. All the participants of the meeting were exited and gave honor and appreciation by standing on their foot and clapped during the certificate presentation time. We thank God for all what He has done for us and through us.

3. Visiting Newly planted Church in Wanga Community

We believe that Church planting is the most effective method of evangelism. That’s why we are doing it aggressively. Just few weeks ago the ministry team and I visited a newly planted church in the village called Wanga in Boset district. We walked on muddy road to get to the church. Hundreds of people gathered in plastic shade and it was so amazing and a blessing for us to see those precious people worshiping God in singing and praise.

We shared the word of God with them, encouraged them and prayed for them. We thank God for this breakthrough of planting churches in every community and in every village. Currently we are able to plant from 3 – 5 churches in every month.

Conclusion

These are praises and prayer request items to pray about with us: –

• Thank God for our ministry in the Muslim countries and the Saving Grace and Power to transform the lives of MBBs’
• Thank God for His protection in the lives of our missionaries in Muslim dominating regions and countries.
• Pray for our under ground ministry we have in Horn of Africa nations; may God would continue saves many souls miraculously for His Glory.
• Pray for the protection of our MBBs’ particularly for those who are persecuted and run away from their country to save their lives.
• Pray for all MBB churches and Safe House that may God would continue provide all the necessary provisions to equip, train and disciple our MBBs’.

Samson Weldemariam /Pst/
Vice – president and Africa director of U4A

 

Ethiopia Updates – September 2021

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1. Impacting Leaders Impacting Africa:

Creating Network and establishing good partnership among our fellow Africans.
I have had a very good time in Dare Salam, Kilimanjaro and Arusha, Tanzania in this month. I have attended and spoke on the Leaders Transformation conference in those cities. The objectives of the conference were:

• To discuss on how can we bring true transformation in Africa.
• To create network and partnership among ministries to accelerate the transformation process in Africa.
• To share one another our best practices in each of our countries.

The conference was organized by a ministry called Global Bride Ministries which is based in Los Angeles, USA. The founder and leader of this ministry named by Pastor Michael Park. He is originally from Korea but live in USA for more than 40 years. We are partnering with this ministry for many years.

Discussion time with Pastor Park and his team

And now they have come up with idea of how can we help our African farmers by introducing them Organic Farming Method. We discussed on the needs of Organic Farming Method to secure food in Africa. This is one of things that we need to bring transformation in Africa. Currently, the governments of many Africa countries are promoting fertilizers, chemicals and GMO seeds to our farmers. And our land is getting polluted by the chemicals of insecticides and pesticides. And also our farmers are having hard time of affording to buy the fertilizers and all other chemical in puts and are getting in to debt and selling their lands to repay their debts.

Due to all those reasons teaching our farmers with natural ways of Organic Farming are very important in these days. So, we have discussed this issues with our partner the way forward.

I also spoke on the church meetings and prayed about all those plans. We thank God for this new vision of helping our farmers.

 

Speaking on the conference and praying time.

2. Visiting, Encouraging and Training our leaders in Southern Region of Ethiopia.

One of master trainers Pastor Getahun Abebe went to the Southern region of our country in this month to visit, encourage and train our leaders. More than 40 leaders from the surrounding city of Awasa gathered together for prayers, sharing and discussing their challenges. More than 50 local churches have planted in that region just recently. And we thank God for His amazing work.

Leaders meeting in Awasa, Southern Region

Conclusion

These are praises and prayer request items to pray about with us: –
• Thank God for the growth of our ministry Unite4Africa in terms of impacting and transforming many lives and nations in Africa.
• Thank God for the partnership we have to transform Africa and the passion, vision and commitment that our leaders have.
• Pray for this organic farming idea that may God would use it to help our farmers and their families so that they will be able to tackle poverty and to ensure food security.

Samson Weldemariam /Pst/
Vice – president and Africa director of U4A

 

Ethipia Updates – August 2021

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1. Impacting Leaders Impacting Africa:
Mobilize Disciple-making movements among our Young people.

This is one of our key programs which is to mobilize Disciple-making movements across Africa. We seek to accomplish this by equipping, coaching, and releasing leaders to “Make Disciples that Make Disciples”.

Our brother Kalu is one of our youth leaders and whom we intentionally are being disciple him here in Ethiopia. He recently trained more than 30 young leaders from various denominations in Adama/Nazareth/. He taught them Jesus’s way of disciple making which is how Jesus helped His followers to grow Spiritually by leading them from Unbelief to Spiritual Maturity.

We thank God for our young leaders like Kalu who are committed to their calling and impacting our young generation according to their context.

Young Leaders Disciple Making Training in Adama/Nazareth/ Town

2. Our Visit in Kenya:

We have had a very fruitful and impactful visit to Kenya last month as Unite4Africa Africa leadership team with our leader Rev. Dr. Okongo and with his wife Shyla. We encouraged our leaders there, visited the believers’ homes in their villages, ministered and prayed our churches.
The impact was amazing. Our young leaders got mentored and coached, had a strategic meeting with our African leaders and refreshed our goals for this year. I take this opportunity to thank our leader Rev. Dr. Okongo for his leadership and for brining us together to have this wonderful time with him and with one another.

Dr. Rev. Okongo encouraging our leaders and Church in Maasai Community in Kenya

Conclusion

These are our praises and prayer request items to pray about with us:
• Thank God for the growth of our ministry Unite4Africa in terms of impacting and transforming many lives and nations.
• Pray for our young leaders that may God would continue using them to reach out their peer groups and transform many lives for Christ.
• Continue Pray for African leaders that may God continue using them and grow them in wisdom and knowledge.

Samson Weldemariam /Pst/
Vice – president and Africa director of U4A

 

Ethiopia Updates – July 2021

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1. Impacting Leaders Impacting Africa:
Leadership Training in Southern Ethiopia Region Continues

This is a great program we have; focusing on our leaders to help them transform their own lives and communities holistically. We have had a great time of training in Arbaminch city, Southern Ethiopia. We trained more than 60 leaders who have come from various towns and churches in the region.

This region is one of the fertile regions in the country for the Gospel. So, such kinds of gatherings and trainings are very important for them to encourage them to keep pressing on and accelerate our mission work.

By the end of the training many of them testified that God has spoken to them to continue to pressing on and move forward to plant more churches and to transform their won communities.

Leaders Training in Arbaminch City

2. Disciplining and Coaching our leaders:

Training, discipling, coaching, mentoring and equipping is one of our key strategies and approaches to help our leaders to transform their own lives and their communities. Pastor Chachi and Pastor Wondye are our key regional leaders in Southern region of Ethiopia.

We have had great time with them talking to them heart to heart, sharing their challenges as leaders and as men as well. We thank God for their lives and ministries.

Our Leaders Pastor Wondye and Pastor Chachi

3. The impact of the Book “Abducted but Not forsaken” in Africa.

 

Dr. Okongo’s book continues impacting, encouraging and challenging many leaders in Africa. His book; “Abducted but Not Forsaken”; I find it a must read and an amazing book packed with full of important biblical principles of how to respond to sufferings and challenges.

This book also gives hope for those who have been passing through in various life challenges and hardships in one way or another and will help us to understand deeply the sovereignty of God in any circumstances. And it also shows us practically; how God works in our lives for good for those of us who love God and called according to His will.
Most of us as leaders got challenged by Dr. Okongo’s story to forgive those who hurt us in many ways as we are ministering in God’s vineyards.

Thank you Dr. Rev. Okongo for providing us this wonderful eye opening book. I always thank God for your life, vision and ministry.

Conclusion

These are our praises and prayer request items to pray about with us:
• Thank God for peaceful election that we have had in Ethiopia.
• Pray for our church leaders that may God would use our leadership training program to transform the lives of our leaders and our cumminites.
• Continue Pray specifically for the vulnerable and innocent children in Hamar community in the remote southern region of the country who are living in dangerous situation that may God would rescue them.

Samson Weldemariam /Pst/
Vice – president and Africa director of U4A

Ethiopia Updates – June 2021

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1. Impacting Leaders Impacting Africa:
Leadership Training in Eastern Ethiopia Region

We have had a great time of training in Harar city, Eastern Ethiopia. We trained more than 50 leaders who have come from various towns and churches in the region.

The churches in the region are facing lots of challenges and many forms of persecutions from the followers of other religions. So, such kinds of gatherings and trainings are very important for them to encourage one another, to pray together and to equip them to stand firm in the storms of persecutions and hardships.

By the end of the training many of them testified that God has spoken to them to continue in the ministry regardless and they were thankful to God. They asked us to organize more other similar training events for them so that they will be able to backed to fight the good fight of faith in that challenging region.

Leaders Training in Harar City

2. Another Mass-baptism event again:

We have had another mass baptism event two weeks agao in the river called Awash. 1,080 people got baptized on that day. We praise God for His Salvation! Those believers have come from the towns and villages called Dongore area, Wegereber, bofa, Areda, Awuragodana Adama Boku.

I have delivered the message about “the new life we have got through Jesus” to the believers and our leaders. And Pastor Nigussie and Yidnekachew gave word of prayers.

I salute all our local missionaries and church leaders for this great harvest. I believe that the fire of the True Gospel will keep burning and transform our communities and beyond. I take this opportunity to thank all our partners for your prayers and support in this great work of the kingdom.
Glory to be God!

3. Distribution of Goats and its Impact

We have continued helping our orphans by giving out goats even in the past month. We have distributed 25 goats in various villages in the past month and the pictures showed below is in one of the villages among other distributing center.
The impact is amazing in terms of helping our kids to be able to support themselves and open up the door for the Gospel. Our churches in various villages have got good reputation from the community. Even the non – believers are saying that the church is taking care of the needs of the community and they are thankful.

Distribution of Goats in Areda Village.

Conclusion

These are our praises and prayer request items to pray about with us:
• Thank God also for all the new converts and for those who got baptized few weeks ago; and pray for them that may God would help them to grow spiritually and to be able to be a good disciple of Jesus.
• Pray for our churches in the Eastern Region of Ethiopia where predominantly influenced by Muslims that may God would strengthen them through all the persecutions they have been passing through.
• Continue Pray specifically for the vulnerable and innocent children in Hamar community in the remote southern region of the country who are living in dangerous situation that may God would rescue them.

Samson Weldemariam /Pst/
Vice – president and Africa director of U4A

 

Ethiopia Updates – May 2021

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1. Life changing story – The Impact of our School

Living for Christ Despite His Father’s Rejection

Abdurazaq Mukemil is seventeen years old. He has been staying in our school for the past fourteen years since he was in Nursery. This is the same school that Family Life Communications helped many years ago.

Today Abdurazaq is in Grade 11 and is one of the top students in our school. His father is a fanatic radical Muslim man. As a result of the ministry we have in our school, Abdurazaq and his mother accepted Jesus Christ seven years ago. His Muslim father got angry at them and chased them out of his house. Now Abdurazaq and his mother have left the town together and the church is taking care of them.

2. Life changing story – The impact of our visit to the Remote areas of Ethiopia

There is a community called Hamar in the Southern Region of Ethiopia, at the boarder of Northern Kenya. These are the community of cattle herders and have their own traditional practices in terms of beautifying themselves and dressing styles. As a result of this; the area has become one of the tourist attractions and destinations sites in Ethiopia.

God has given us an open door to plant a church in that community. Our missionary Wondye has been doing great job in serving that community. We baptized 30 people during our visit in the river called Keske.

We have observed that that community has so many challenges such as water and other harmful traditional practice on the life of those children who was born out of marriage and NOT according to the tradition of the community.

These children considered to be “Cursed” and they called them “Mingi” in their language and believes that they will bring “Curse” on the community. So, their parents either must throw them in the bush or leave the area.

We have seen and met many children in many villages and we are coming up with project proposal how do we rescue and help those children. They really need prayers.

3. Another Mass-baptism event:

We are having another mass baptism event in the coming week in the river called Awash. More than 1,000 people are ready to get baptize. So far, we got baptized more than 430 people two weeks ago. We thank God for His great salvation.

Conclusion

These are our praises and prayer request items to pray about with us: –

• Le us thank God for the new ministry door that He has opened for us to minister the Hamar Community.
• Thank God also for all the new converts that got baptized few weeks ago; and for another group of people who are getting baptized in coming weeks.
• Continue to Pray for Hamar community may God would help them to grow spiritually and transform in every aspect of their lives.
• Pray specifically for the vulnerable and innocent children in Hamar who are living in dangerous situation that may God would rescue them.

 

Samson Weldemariam /Pst/
Vice – president and Africa director of U4A

Ethiopia Updates – April 2021

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1. Life changing story – The Impact of our School

A Muslim Teacher and His Family

Rediet Abebe is a 13-year-old girl who lives in Wonjishowa . Her parents were Muslims. Even her father was one of the Quran teachers in Mosques in that village. In the past 8 years we have been giving her access to education freely. Now she is a grade 5 student. As a result of what God has been doing through our school, Rediet and her parents and all her other family members have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior and they recently got baptized and live a happy life with Jesus.

Rediet with her father Abebe

2. Life changing story – The impact of our Goats Project

A 10-year-old Genet Abera is one of our beneficiaries from our goat project. She lost her parents when she was three years old and lives with her old grandmother. She received one goat 3 years ago and within the past three years her goat has become more than 15.

By selling of some of the goats she has; she is able to take care of herself and her grandmother, covers all her school expenses like school supplies and cloths. Just few months ago she sold some of the goats and be able to buy a cow. She is so happy and have a plan to have got more cows so that she will be able to get more milks and gets more revenue.

Pastor Beyene Tadesse is our leader in that village called Areda close to Boffa town. He said that Genet has become our blessing in the church. She also gave one of the twin goat to other orphan in the village and supported their village church by selling her goat. He added that she has great vision for herself and for her community. This goat project not only supports the needy orphans, moreover, it transforms the mindset of our children from dependency to self confidence to be able to change their own lives. It also gives them vision for their future lives and teach them accountability from their early childhood time.

3. Life Changing Story – The impact of our Story telling training and church planting.

This is Ziad Mohammed Sayid Ibrahim who was one of the ministers who took our story telling training 7 years ago. He is one of our MBB’s and his father is an imam in mosques. After he accepted Jesus Christ he become passionate evangelist in his place called Bale-Robe town.

He had been passing through in various challenges and persecutions because of his faith in Christ. But, he endured in all those challenges and oppositions from his community. After he took the story telling training that I was conducted many years ago; he used that tool and wins many souls for Christ. He also has planted three churches in various villages in the surrounding town of Bale-Robe with his ministry team.

I have got a chance to visit him and the region he is serving just last week and I was so blessed and encouraged by what God has done through his life and ministry. I thanked God because He is using Zaid to plant many churches and to become live testimony for many Muslims.

Conclusion

These are our praises and prayer request items to pray about with us:

• Le us thank God for Zaid and for many new Muslim coverts who have come to Christ through the testimony of Zaid.
• Thank God also for the breakthrough that He has given us in the Region of Bale-Robe so that many people are being accepting Christ.
• Continue Pray for Zaid and the churches in the region of Bale-Robe that may God would continue giving them holy spirit power and strategy to reach out many.
• Pray for our Goat project that may God would continue transforming many more orphans and vulnerable Children like Genet so that His name would be glorified and many more people be able to see the goodness of God in our ministry.
• Pray also for our leaders as we travel for the work of the ministry may God would protect us and keep our families safe.

Samson W. /Pst/
Vice – president and Africa director of U4A

Ethiopia Updates – March 2021

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1. Training, encouraging and appointing leaders in Western Wollega Region.

We have had great time in the town NEKEMTE. More than 50 leaders and missionaries who have come from EASTERN WOLLAGA and HORO GUDURU regions of the country gathered together and we encouraged, trained and prayed for them for two days.

We have also established zonal office and appointed five key leaders and commissioned them for that region.  We have traveled as an apostolic team with our dear leaders Pastor Nigussie and Pastor Tesfaye. Our regional leader Pastor Miheretu has also joined us.

Since that region is very key in terms of peace & stability of the country; we need to focus to preach the Gospel of peace and empower and equip our leaders to impact and transform their community for good.

We do have more than 30 churches in the region. Out of 30 churches 14 of them have been planted in the past six months alone. Those 14 churches are located in the sub-region called BEGI where 90% of its communities are Muslims. We have also learnt from our visit that 120 new Muslim back ground believers/MBB/ are ready to take water baptism in few weeks.

This is very encouraging news for our ministry and I would like to thank all friends, families and partners for praying for us and supporting us in our mission. Praise God.

2. Life changing story – The impact of our Schools

Escape to Christ

Ayat Abicho is a nine-year-old girl in Butajira. Her mother is a Muslim woman who was raped by the unknown person in her village at night, and in this way Ayat was born. According to the Muslim tradition in that village, Ayat’s mother was responsible for this evil act and the community shamed her. To protect her daughter and herself, she and Ayat escaped at night to the town Bitajira and became homeless living on the street. Her mother became pregnant again by another Muslim man and birthed a baby boy she named Kalid. But this man also left her and she became lonely and disappointed.

Our church in Butajira has taken care of Ayat the little girl, giving Ayat access for education freely in our School Butajira and other additional necessary care. And our local church also has rehabilitated Ayat’s mother. Now Ayat is a grade 3 student and her mother also has accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and is now leading a new life with Jesus. She is now a happy woman and thanking God for what he has done for her life and her daughter.

 

3. Another graduation commencement ceremony in Nekemete town Eastern Wollega Region.

In our mission trip in Wollega; we have also conducted a graduation commencement event. 35 leaders have graduated in mission and Biblical studies. This training was conducted with the aim of taking the training to them instead of brining them to the training center in big cities. The event was so important for them to praise God for giving them this achievement and their commitment and dedication for the past two years bear fruits.
We believe that God is going to use them never like before to transform their communities through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Graduates in Nekemet Town

Conclusion

These are our thanks giving and prayer items to pray about with us:
• Le us thank God for many new Muslim coverts
• Pray also for them that may they grow deep in their faith in Christ regardless of the persecutions that they have been passing through.
• Pray for protection and peace of mind for those of our leaders who are in conflict affecting regions and areas.
• Pray also for our Leadership training, Business leaders summit, and animal and School projects so that may God would continue using those programs and projects to transform our communities.

Samson W. /Pst/
Vice – president and Africa director of U4A

Ethiopia Updates – February 2021

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1. Mentoring and Coaching young generation.

Besides conducting various training events; mentoring and couching is one of our key strategies to equip and empower our young leaders for the work of the ministry. This includes spending quality time with them in fellowship and in prayer, travel together and involving them in the ministry and sharing life and ministry experiences.

Kale-ab ( Kalu) Alemu is one of our key young leaders in our ministry here in Adama/Nazareth/. He is making disciples, leading and mobilizing more than 200 young leaders under him. He loves the Lord and has passion for the work of the kingdom.

Currently, he graduated from our college in Biblical leadership. I am intentionally coaching, mentoring and getting involved him in the ministry by taking him in various discipleship, leadership empowerment training events and other ministry mission fields.

I thank God for him and I strongly believe that he will be one of our next generation leaders in our ministry.

Kale-ab ( Kalu) and Pastor Samson

2. Graduation Ceremony

We had a very wonderful time of Emmanuel United Theological College (EUTC) Graduates Commencement in Adama/ Nazareth/.

More than 100 men and women leaders and ministers graduated in mission & Biblical studies and Biblical leadership. I believe that these graduates will be another group of workers of the harvest and part of the army of God who are going to fight the good fight of faith and fulfill the great commission mandate which is to go to all Nations and making disciples.

I take this opportunity to congratulate all graduates and would like to say thank you for coming to our college and study the word of God with us for the past four years.  I also thank God for them for making the right choice to be the disciple of Jesus.

Currently, we do have more than 300 students and leaders from various denominations being attended our training in our various campuses.

My joy is doubled and I am super exited; because my wife was one of the graduates among those leaders. She has a vision to empower women and teenage girls and she said that the training will help her to organize more training events for women and young teenage girls so that they will be able to be equipped and empowered.

At last; but not least I would also like to thank all our master trainers, local church leaders, training coordinators, facilitators and partners for their enormous contributions of this achievement.

EUTC Graduation

3. Continue equipping young leaders

We strongly believe that young people are the future leaders of a nation. These days many young people are exposed for so many things in Africa. So, there is a huge need of equipping and empowering our young people to rescue them from all those challenges that they are passing through and prepare them for Christ so that they will be able to reach out their peer groups.

We are impacting not only the youth in our churches; but also the young people who are from other churches. We trained 20 youths who have come from other 6 denominations in Adama/Nazareth/. We trained them on the topic of Jesus’s way of disciple making strategy.

They really have touched by the training and decided to start the disciple – making movement in their churches and even beyond by following Jesus’s strategy which is developing relationship with people.

“Strategy” Training for youth in Adama/Nazareth/

Conclusion

These are our thanks giving and prayer items to pray about with us:

  • Let us thank God for the fruits of 2020 in our ministry and we saw that:
    • 13,556 people gave their lives to Christ and 4,162 new believers were baptized
    • 3,585 leaders were trained to help transform Africa for Christ.
    • 19,196 people were given medical treatment and health training.
    • 9,758 sanitation systems were distributed that helped protect 46,581 people from Covid-19.
    • 2,995 school children were given a Christ-honoring education.
    • 7,550 teenage victims of abuse received care and spiritual healing.
    • 545 orphans were adopted within their communities.
    • 3,205 received animals to raise and help them earn sustainable incomes, and over 9,307 other orphans were assisted in some form.

We serve an awesome God. He deserves praises and thanks!

  • Pray also for our new year plans that may God would enable us to accomplish it according to his will.
  • Pray for our young leaders and disciple- makers that may God would continue to use them to impact many by the teachings of Jesus and by His life.
  • Pray for protection and peace of mind for those of our leaders who are in conflict affecting regions and areas.
  • Pray also for our Leadership training, Business leaders summit, and animal and School projects so that may God would continue using those programs and projects to transform our communities.

Samson W. /Pst/
Vice – president of U4A and Ethiopia Director

Ethiopia Updates – January 2021

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1. Disciple-makers Training for our leaders in Welenchity town

We have conducted the 3rd module of our disciple – making training for our leaders on the topic of “Vision”. 20 key leaders and church planters have attended the training. Those leaders have come from various towns and villages such as Adama/Nazareth/, Welenchity, Boffa, Donni and from some other villages.

We have discussed and shared with them the importance of understanding the three C’s principles to live out our vision which are called Character, Competency and Calling.

We have started this movement of disciple – making in our country with the aim of raising disciple making leaders in every sphere of life. We have adopted the materials from our partner called J-life Africa and started giving our leaders the four modules that will help them to initiate Jesus’s way of disciple – making movement in our country and beyond.

So far we have conducted the three modules and it went very well. After they received the training they go to their respective areas and train more other leaders in their respective areas and region.

Disciple- making training on “Vision”

2. Youth Leadership development training in Adama /Nazareth/ town.

Ethiopia is said to be the country of youth. 65% of its population is under the age of 35. So, impacting our youth is impacting the future of our nation. The church of Ethiopia has to do a lot to transform the lives of our young generation and to prepare them for their destiny.

We have done so much to train, empower and couch our youth through various programs. Youth Leadership development training is one of the platforms that we are using to fulfil the vision we have for our youth.

we have trained 25 youth in Adama/ Nazareth/ town on the topic of Jesus’s strategy to make disciples. In this training the participants were not only from Emmanuel United Church but also from 6 other denominations and churches in the town. We thank God for the opportunity that He has granted us to reach out to the key youth leaders even from other denominations.

Youth Leadership Empowerment Training

3. Church Planters and Leaders Training in Bensa-Daye town – Sidamo Region, Ethiopia

Evangelism and Church Planting is one of our key activities that we have been doing aggressively in our ministry. Sidama region is one the areas where we have been doing church planting. There are more than 56 churches in place called Bensa-Daye.

Pastor Nigussei Worku is one of our key master trainers; went to that region and trained more than 30 key and top leaders and church planters. I thank God for Pastor Nigussie.


Bansa – Daye Training & consultation

Conclusion

I would like to share our prayer request with you to pray about:

• Pray for peace, stability and unity of our Country Ethiopia.
• Pray for protection and peace of mind of our leaders who are in conflict affecting regions and areas.
• Pray for our discipleship – making movement, Leadership training, Business leaders summit, youth leadership development training and animal and School projects so that may God would continue using to transform our communities.

Samson W. /Pst/
Vice – president of U4A and Ethiopia Director

Ethiopia Update – December 2020

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1. Construction of Feeding – Hall in Wonjishowa School

One of the challenges we have had in our school in Wonjishowa was that we did not have adequate place for our school children a place to eat. Our students used to eat their lunch under the tree, by sitting on the ground and dusty places.

But now we have got support from U4A partners and have started building feeding hall. The work of the construction is going on very well and will be completed early next year.
After the completion of this project 200 school children who are in KG level will be benefited. I thank God for the opportunity He has granted us to help our children. And we would also like to thank U4A board leadership and our President Rev. Okongo.

Feeding Hall for our Students in Wonjishowa School

2. Disciple – Making training for our leaders

We have started this movement of disciple – making in our country with the aim of raising disciple making leaders in every sphere of life. We have adopted the materials from our partner called J-life Africa and started giving our leaders the four modules that will help them to initiate Jesus’s way of disciple – making movement in our country and beyond.
So far we have conducted the two modules and it went very well. After they received the training they go and train more other leaders in their respective areas and religions.


Disciple – Making Training to our leaders

3. Christian Business leaders training and consultation

God has given us direction to organize a training and consultation event for our Christian business leaders in Addis Ababa the capital city of Ethiopia. We have gathered 25 Christian business leaders and church pastors for one-day training & consultation session. The topic of the consultation was “Leadership & Crises”. And we have addressed and discussed the current crises that are affecting our businesses and ministries and how can we respond to those crises Biblically and professionally.
I was one of the speakers and spoke on the issue of biblical & theological view and response to crises. All the participants were so excited and said that it was so fruitful meeting and God spoke to them that how would they can be a better leader during the crisis times.

Christian Business Leaders Training & consultation

Conclusion

I would like to share our prayer request with you to pray about:

• Pray for peace, stability and unity of our Country Ethiopia.
• Pray for protection and peace of mind of our leaders who are in conflict affecting regions and areas.
• Pray for our discipleship – making movement, Business leaders summit, animal and School projects so that may God would continue using to transform our communities.

Samson W. /Pst/
Vice – president of U4A and Ethiopia Director

Ethiopia Update – November 2020

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1.- Our Annual General Assembly Meeting Went well

God has given us great time in our annual general assembly meeting in this Passed month. We heard very encouraging and inspiring stories and reports from our leaders who have come from various regions of the country. Thousands of people have come to the Lord and are being discipled and hundreds of new churches have been planted even during this Covid-19 season through home gatherings.

We worshiped and thanked God for what He has done through our ministry. We also prayed for all our partners who have shown us their love and supported us in this difficult and challenging time.

We discussed on the effect of the pandemic in our churches and formulated and gave our leaders strategic directions how to do ministry after the pandemic. And finally we have concluded our meeting by partaking holy communion in one accord and with great joy.

I take this opportunity to thank all our brave leaders who have been sacrificing all they have for the kingdom of God and all our partners who have been praying for us and showed their love and solidarity during this crisis.

Our general Assembly Meeting

 

2. Working on Preparing Strategic Plan for all our School Projects

We do have 15 schools all over the country with the total number of 6,150 students. All our schools have been working independently in their own communities. We feel like this is the time to bring them together and create a coordination effort and Synergy to enhance their performance and impact in the entire nation by helping them to share their resources, information, best practices and the like.

In order to do that we have established a team to do a survey and assessment of the activities of our schools and will come up with good strategic planning.

I am leading the team and all team members are doing great in playing their role. This team is composed of various department of our churches & ministry areas and even from our Relief and Development Association.

So far we have had three meetings and have designed our work and set directions. Hopefully we will produce a good and workable Strategic plan document that will help all our schools to do their work in a better way by providing quality, Christian value based Education for our Orphans and vulnerable children.


Strategic planning Team

3.- Consultation meeting with our regional leaders

We do have 8 regional leaders in 8 regions of the country. Our leaders are helping us to facilitate our ministry to be reachable to our grass root church planters and leaders.
I had a wonderful time with them to hear their reports and stories, encouraging one another, plan together for next year and prayed for them.
I thank God for those incredible leaders who are fighting the good fight regardless. Pray for them as they continue serving God and His people.


Our Regional Leaders

Conclusion

I would like to share our prayer request with you to pray about:

• Pray for our leaders, regional coordinators and local missionaries that may God would continue provide us the necessary resources to organize more training meetings for them in the future so that they will be equipped more to do the work of the ministry never like before.

• To continue praying for our school projects that may God would enable us to do more for our students and communities.

• Continue to pray for our animal projects to continue impacting the lives of our orphans through this project.

Samson W. /Pst/
Vice – president of U4A and Ethiopia Director

 

 

 

Ethiopia Update – October 2020

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1. Discipleship movement in Rural villages

God has given us a special break through in the area in church planting and discipleship movement. Thousands of people are coming to Christ and got baptized every year.

So, the need of making disciples are very huge in the region. As we have been doing evangelism and church planting aggressively in the past years; we have also been doing disciple making side by side as our Lord commanded us.

Degefa Edeo is one of our leaders and disciple makers in various rural villages in Dongore area. After he took the training in disciple making; he trained more than 50 other leaders in his villages under tree. It is very common in our area to do church planting and discipleship under the tree and it always reminds us Jesus’s time.

The impact of the training is incredible said Pastor Degefa; he also added that it helps us to have healthy biblical church who has reach on the level spiritual maturity, obedient to the Lord and fulfil the great commission.

We thank God for this great movement that he has begun in our region.


Desciplshhip movement under the Tree

2. Key leaders meeting for Discipleship Training and Consultation

Due to Covid-19 restrictions in the past months; we did not have a chance to meet with our leaders as we did before. But now, some of the restrictions are getting relaxed and we are able to gather together as we keep all the safety measures to protect ourselves. We have gathered 17 to train them on the topic of “How to make disciples in Jesus’s way and strategy even in this pandemic”.

Since, the area is known by a huge movement of evangelism and church planting and thousands of people are coming to Christ and getting baptize; and the issue of discipleship has become very critical and important.

We also encouraged them and prayed over them during our meeting and they were so encouraged and requested us to organize such kinds of gatherings even in the future so that they will be equipped and encouraged to do their ministry in a better way. Thank you so much all our partners for your prayers and support.



Training & Consultation Participants in Welenchity town

3. Consultation meeting with our leaders on the the effect of Covid-19 in Churches and what will our churches look like post lockdown.

We have had a good time of consultation with more than 15 key leaders about what things will look like post lockdown. In many ways, the Lord has helped us push the reset button during COVID-19. We need to make sure that we prepare the church for post lockdown so that they do not plan for going back to do things as they’ve always been done.

The followings were some of the discussion points that we have discussed and reflected on during our consultation time.

• What can we learn from the crisis that the church faced in Acts 8:1-3 and their response to it?
• What are some of the positive changes that we have seen the Church make during COVID-19 lockdown?
• What should we learn from these changes?
• What are your takeaways from our discussion today?

It was so impressive to hear how our key leaders responded to those points and shared their experiences and best practices with each other.
We thank God for the strength and wisdom that he has given us to go through this pandemic and be able to pass through it.

We are planning to hold many similar consultation meetings in the near future in various regions of the country so that we can give our leaders more insights to help them to be a better leader.


Key leaders Consultation meeting in Adama/Nazareth/

Conclusion

I would like to share our prayer request with you to pray about:

• Pray for our leaders, regional coordinators and local missionaries that may God would continue provide us the necessary resources to organize more meetings for them in the future so that they will be equipped to do the work of the ministry never like before.
• To continue praying for the most vulnerable communities that are being affected by the impact of the Pandemic and may God would enable us to continue helping more communities and people during this challenging time.

Samson W. /Pst/
Vice – president of U4A and Ethiopia Director

 

 

 

 

Ethiopia Update – September 2020

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Donation of a Motorbike

The movement of Evangelism and Church planting in our region is growing very fast like never before. Even in this pandemic time; God is turning the heart of the people back to Him. As a result of the care, support and Love that we have shown even to the non believers who are in desperate need; many people are coming to Christ through our relief work.

However, it is not easy for our missionaries and leaders to minister to their people specially in this difficult time due to the travel restrictions and the risk of contracting the virus as some of them travelling by public transport. To reduce the risk and help them to do their ministry effectively; we have started providing Motorbike to our leaders.

Shuferu Bedada is one of our regional coordinators and missionaries who are serving around Boffa area. Now, he has become one of the beneficiaries of getting Motorbike. He was so exited and said on the receiving ceremony time that this is really a blessing from God; he thanked God and our partners for this support. He also added that he is responsible to minister and visit more than 50 local churches in various locations and villages; it was so difficult for him to reach out all those village churches. Most of the time he walked by foot and took him 2 to 3 hours to get from one village to another. But this Motorbike will help him to reach many more villages easier.

 Shuferu Bedada with his Motorbike

Continue visiting our local churches in various towns and villages.

We have continued visiting our local churches even in this past month. We give priority to visit those local churches who are being affected by Covid–19 Pandemic significantly. So far, we have visited more than 25 churches and saw them in what situation they are in. We have seen the challenges they have been passing though and encouraged them and prayed over them.

They were so encouraged by our visit and they said that they have got more energy to press on in the works of the kingdom of God. After our visit we have responded to some of their needs by the support we have got from our Unite 4 Africa head office in USA. We thank God for our leader Rev. Dr. Okongo and his wife Shyla for standing alongside with us in this difficult time as family.

Visiting our leaders and praying together

Conclusion

I would like to share our prayer request with you to pray about:

  • Pray for our leaders, regional coordinators and local missionaries that God would continue to bless them with more Bicycle and Motorbike so that they would serve and reach out to more communities easily. Especially in this time of Pandemic.
  • To continue praying for the safety and protection of our leaders and their families during this crisis and pandemic.
  • To continue praying for the most vulnerable communities that are being affected by the impact of the Pandemic and may God would enable us to continue helping more communities and people during this challenging time.

Samson W. /Pst/
Vice – President of U4A and Ethiopia Director

Ethiopia Update – August 2020

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1. Relief work for Covid-19 affected communities and churches

God has given us a number of partners inside and out side of the country that are partnering with us in this difficult times to be able to help our communities that are affected by Covid-19 and the restrictions from the government followed by the pandemic.

To respond to this challenge, we have come up with a relief project plan. According to our relief project plan our target churches and communities were in two regions that are Eastern Wollega and Bosset district (Nazareth/Adama/ & Welenchity area). But, we have included the southern region to be another targeted area in our relief work; because this region is also affected by locus invasion. So far we have reached 308 communities and helped more than 3,000 household beneficiaries by providing them food and other sanitary stuffs.

One of our Evangelists in Western Wollega region whom I can not mention his name for the purpose of confidentiality has four children; three girls and one boy. The last born is 3 years’ old. He and his family did not have food for more than 3 days. As His children and family were starving and suffering; our food donation Vehicle got arrived in his village. And he was so exited and thanked God for His provision. I call this food ‘Miracle food like Manna’ he said in tears; after he received the food donation.

We thank God and thank our partners all over the world who have participated in this work to help our people in this difficult time. May God Bless you abundantly as you continue serving Him faithfully.

   

Food donation in Adama/Nazareth/

2. Our Orphans Animal project continues

In parallel with supporting our communities with food and other sanitization system, we are also continuing helping the orphans and vulnerable Children in various communities and villages.

Last month we supported more than 15 orphans and vulnerable children in Adama/Nazareth/ area and its surrounding villages; we offered goats for orphans so that it will help them to get milk and reproduce more goats. This support has two-fold strategy which is addressing the immediate needs for relief for the child while ensuring the long-term, independent sustainability of care.

An eight-year-old girl Gelane lives in one of the villages located in Boffa area with her aunty. She lost her parents due to HIV Aids and her aunty is taking care of Gelane with her other 3 kids. Gelane has received goat and she was so exited. Goats are very important animal in her village. She said that she is expecting more goats in a few years and she is looking after it in her villages with other goats. And she is also planning to give goats to other orphans when her goat reproduces more goats.

We thank God for this project. So far, so many children have been transforming through this little gift.

Goats support for some of the Orphans in Boffa Village areas

3. Visiting our local churches that are affected by the recent violence in Ethiopia

Recently, our country was in chaos. Hundreds of people were killed and displaced by the rioters. And so many businesses, buidlings and houses were damaged in many cities of the Oromoiya region like Shashamane, Ziway and Dhera.

This unrest affected our churches as well. So, we as leaders went to those towns visited our churches and encouraged our leaders. They were so happy by our visit. We took time with them to listen to their experiences and their stories and how God protected them and their families from the evil. We encouraged them by the word of God and prayed for them together.

We thank God for their commitment to continue serving Him and His people even in difficult situation. The situation now is much better in those places after the security forces controlled those places.

   

Visiting our leaders and praying for them together

4. Conclusion

I would like to share our prayer requests with you:

  • Please continue praying for the safety and protection of our leaders and their families during this crisis and pandemic.
  • Please continue praying for the most vulnerable communities that are being affected by the impact of the Pandemic and may God would enable us to continue helping more communities and people during this challenging time.

Samson W. /Pst/
Vice – president of U4A and Ethiopia Director

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