Ethiopa Update – June 2015 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
I. Brick-making project in Donni village
Our Church in Donni town has started Brick-making project for the youths. This is one of our strategies to reduce unemployment rate in the town. More than 80% of the youth in the town do not have the opportunity of getting jobs after they graduated from colleges.
So, the church has bought small locally made machine and trained 5 youths how to use the machine. After they took the training they have started making bricks for the construction of houses. Currently they are making bricks for the school building construction in the church.
Ethiopa Update – May 2015 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
I. Women Bridges Training in Nazareth
Addiskidan Derib, one of our Women master trainers has trained 15 women in Nazareth. The aim of this training is to multiply the women trainers. They took the bridges two training. After they complete all the bridges training we will send them out to the villages so that they will be able to train more trainers.
The participants of the training were so active in implementing what they have got from the training. They had wonderful time of discussion, drama and practicing story telling in Ethiopian coffee ceremony event.
Women Bridges Training in Nazareth: – Drama, Storytelling on coffee ceremony event and group discussion
Ethiopa Update – April 2015 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
I. Additional New Church has been planted in Nazareth
By the grace of God we are able to plant the 5th additional local church in Nazareth town. Just two weeks ago we launched the church officially and conducted thanksgiving program. I preached and prayed for the new leaders of the local church and for those who contributed a lot for the realization of this vision.
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this town has a total population of 220,212, an increase of 72.25% over the population recorded in the 1994 census, of whom 108,872 are men and 111,340 women. So, we need to have more Churches in the town. The town is very strategic to reach out the surrounding towns and villages (Ex. Arsi Zone), which is predominantly Muslim population. This town also one of our major training hubs and we have been trained many local missionaries and church leaders so that they get equipped and transform their community.
Pastor Samson W.mariam prayed for the leaders and ministers of the local church
Ethiopa Update – March 2015 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
I. Bridges ΙΙ training in Assosa Town.
One of our Master trainers Pastor Tesfaye has conducted Bridges ΙΙ training in Assosa town, Benishangul Gumuz region. The town is located more than 700 KM far from the capital Addis Ababa. By the grace of God we are able to plant 22 local churches in the region in past 5 years. 43 local missionaries & church leaders have attended the training.
Pastor Tesfaye has conducted the Bridges training in Assosa
Ethiopa Update – Feb 2015 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
I. Mass Baptism event again- Ethiopia
We have baptized 569 new converts again in River Awash. These new converts had come to the event from 8 various villages around Welenchity area. God is still working in the lives of many people in our communities by drawing them to Him through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There will be another event coming up in the month of March and more than 500 people are ready to take the water baptism.
Ethiopa Update – Jan 2015 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
I. Pastors’ Training in Debrezeit
One of the plans we have for last year and even for this year too is to equip our new emerging leaders in Biblical leadership skills and with sound and whole counsel of the word of God so that they will be able to lead the local churches properly, plant more churches and make many disciples.
To do so we have a program called the new generation leaders training program. We have selected 20 young leaders from all parts of the country and have brought them to the town called Debrezeit to train them for a week. The training was focused on the leaders and their wholesome development, more than on the system or the organization.
This program will continue throughout 2015 as the leaders will come together four times for training and experience sharing.
Ethiopa Update – Dec 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
I. Bridges I TOT Workshops Conducted
One of our master trainers Pastor Getahun Abebe went to Assosa and trained 15 leaders and missionaries last month. He also visited our village churches around Assosa town. God is doing tremendous things in this region and we are able to plant 13 churches in that region.
Assosa is located nearly 700KM far from Addis Ababa in the West direction and it serves as the capital town of the region called Beneshangul Gumuz. This region shares boarders with both Sudans’.
In the middle Pastor Getahun Abebe with the training participants
Ethiopa Update – Sep 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
“”In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” (Isaiah 27:6 NIV)
Jacob was a man on the run. That was his normal response to life. But that night his hip was put out of socket, God crippled him in a way that he could no longer run. He made Jacob stationary; grounded; rooted.
In the passage above we see Jacob being rooted, and then Israel blossoming. It’s important to understand that in order for us to blossom, we must be rooted.
What does it mean to be rooted? To be rooted is to be committed and planted. It’s to commit us to a person, place or thing. And just as a plant cannot bear fruit without being rooted, your life can’t be fruitful without commitment.
I believe that the Unite 4 Africa team has become deeply rooted in Him and in the ministry he entrusted us with. Now, I believe that this is our season to blossom and fill the entire world with fruit.
Ethiopa Update – Sep 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
“”In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” (Isaiah 27:6 NIV)
Jacob was a man on the run. That was his normal response to life. But that night his hip was put out of socket, God crippled him in a way that he could no longer run. He made Jacob stationary; grounded; rooted.
In the passage above we see Jacob being rooted, and then Israel blossoming. It’s important to understand that in order for us to blossom, we must be rooted.
What does it mean to be rooted? To be rooted is to be committed and planted. It’s to commit us to a person, place or thing. And just as a plant cannot bear fruit without being rooted, your life can’t be fruitful without commitment.
I believe that the Unite 4 Africa team has become deeply rooted in Him and in the ministry he entrusted us with. Now, I believe that this is our season to blossom and fill the entire world with fruit.
Ethiopa Update – July 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
“Now it came to pass on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples; and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake: and they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8: 22 – 25)
Unexpected Storms, Expected Faith
The Gospels record two occasions where Jesus instructed the disciples to get into boats, and cross over to the other side. On both occasions they encountered storms. Most of these disciples were experienced fishermen who grew up on these shores. They never would have intentionally set sail into a life-threatening storm. The storm was unexpected. Storms always are. What do you do when your perfect plans are interrupted by an unexpected storm? This is what the Galilee is all about.
Jesus showed up on both occasions and calmed the storm, but then turned around and rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. This means that He was expecting them to have faith in the midst of the storm.
God is doing tremendous things in Ethiopia even through the storm. The followings are some of the things I would like to share with you so that you would thank God for His marvelous things and pray for us in our challenges and limitations.
Ethiopa Update – June 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)
We are the Jar. The treasure is what God has deposited within us. The jar has no value on it’s own. It’s only value and purpose is the treasure that it contains. We must be awakened to the all- surpassing power that lives on the inside of us, because if we are not, our lives will never reach beyond the level of the jar of clay.
We confirm this scripture to be true in our lives and ministry here in Ethiopia. God has been using us to proclaim the saving gospel to our community and nation and we have seen many lives being transformed by this surpassing power that is exhibited through us.
Ethiopa Update – May 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
“… When the Holy Spirit comes up on you, you will receive power…” (Acts 1:8)
The Holy Spirit is the greatest power we have while on this planet. There is no power on this earth that transforms the hearts of the people except the Holy Spirit. We have seen Him changing the lives of many people through the Word of God. What an honor and privilege for me to share with you and testify to His work that He has done in our midst.
I take this opportunity to thank the Holy Spirit for His wonderful and amazing work and for being a faithful comforter when we pass through hard times. Yes, the Spirit is really an amazing comforter indeed!
Ethiopa Update – April 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls…love one another fervently from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22)
One of the supreme ethics that Christians are commanded to practice toward one another is love! Love demonstrates itself in concrete actions of service, compassion, kindness and generosity toward others.
I just want to thank all of you for loving God and His people not only in words but also in actions. I encourage you to continue doing this for His Glory.
Here under I am going to share with you few things about God’s amazing work in the country of Ethiopia…
Ethiopa Update – February 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor…” (Luke 4:18)
Jesus said he came to “preach the gospel” but then he states that he came to release the captives, give sight to the blind and set the oppressed free. That goes way beyond a formula.
Saying God loves you from a bumper sticker or Facebook post is not enough.
As a Christian, we must make it our lifelong and joyful ambition to serve others, to be a conduit for God’s miracles, to comfort the brokenhearted, to fight injustice, to weep with those who mourn and to truly love people the way Jesus did.
I believe this is what it means to preach the gospel! May God help us.
Ethiopa Update – February 2014 – Samson Weldemariam – Country Director
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor…” (Luke 4:18)
Jesus said he came to “preach the gospel” but then he states that he came to release the captives, give sight to the blind and set the oppressed free. That goes way beyond a formula.
Saying God loves you from a bumper sticker or Facebook post is not enough.
As a Christian, we must make it our lifelong and joyful ambition to serve others, to be a conduit for God’s miracles, to comfort the brokenhearted, to fight injustice, to weep with those who mourn and to truly love people the way Jesus did.
I believe this is what it means to preach the gospel! May God help us.
FACEBOOK
TWITTER