Ethiopia Update – August 2024

Follow up Leadership & Discipleship Training in Wolayita Sodo

Follow-up training for church leaders is important for ensuring their ongoing development, effectiveness, and well-being in ministry. It helps them stay current, adapt to changing contexts, receive support and accountability, and grow spiritually as they continue to serve their congregations and communities.

The town Wolayita Sodo is one of our training and outreach hubs in Ethiopia. Dr. Okongo initiated and started this training a couple of years ago for hundreds of church leaders in the Southern Region of Ethiopia from more than 22 churches and denominations.

Since that time, we as U4A -Ethiopia, have been conducting the follow-up trainings and the impact is significant in the lives and ministry of our leaders. Pastor George Goa, the Chairman of the Southern Region of the Ethiopian Evangelical Churches Fellowship/EECFE/ said that the training has been helping them to enhance their spiritual lives as leaders and the effectiveness of their ministry. He also said that the training provides a platform for accountability and support for church leaders. It allows them to reflect on their ministry practices, receive feedback from each other, and access resources and guidance to address challenges they may be facing. According to Pastor George; after they take the trainings, they go out and train hundreds of leaders in their districts and sub-districts of the regions.

Leadership & Discipleship Training in Wolayita Sodo

Visiting our Persecuted Local Church Leaders in Ethiopia

Visiting persecuted local churches is an important way to show support, provide comfort, build relationships, and grow spiritually. It is a tangible way to live out the call to love and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing persecution.

Dr. Okongo and his team from Oro Valley Church of Nazarene recently came to Ethiopia. Besides doing so many other outreach activities; they visited our persecuted church leaders. By so doing; they showed solidarity with those who are facing discrimination, violence, or other forms of persecution in their respective areas. Our leaders were so blessed and got excited because their visit helped them know that they are not alone in their struggle and that others care about their well-being.

Dr. Okongo and Pastor David shared the Word of God and provided encouragement and comfort to those who are facing difficult circumstances and lifted their spirits and to give them hope for the future.

This visit was a spiritually enriching experience for the team also. It helped the team members to deepen their faith and understanding of the global Body of Christ, and inspire a greater commitment to stand with those who are persecuted for our beliefs.

Warm welcoming of Dr. Okongo and his team by our Regional Coordinator

We are always grateful to Dr. Okongo for the heart that he has for our leaders and persecuted Believers. We are witness that he always supports them in any way he can in their life journey and he is very much loved by them.

Praise and Prayer Items

The followings are praise and prayer request items to pray about with us:

• Praise God for the life and ministry skill development of our leaders through various trainings.
• Praise God for our leaders who stand firmly in their faith in Christ through various persecutions.
• Continue to pray for our leaders who are going through various persecutions because of their faith in Christ.
• Pray for our Disciple-making movement that God would grow it to impact many leaderships and churches across the country and beyond.

Samson Weldemariam /Pst/
Africa & Ethiopia director of U4A