Ethiopia Update – December 2015 – Samson Weldemariam – Director of Unite 4 Africa, Ethiopia

 A woman who involved in witchcraft activities for almost 60 years got born again 

Her name is DAMITU SANBATO she is 76 years old now. According to her testimony, the evils spirit that controlled her father transferred to her when she was 7 years of age. Since then she suffered a lot in various sicknesses and led miserable life. When she was 17 years of age she officially ordained by the community to take the place of her father so that she became witchcraft.

Since then she got involved in various witchcraft activities for nearly 60 years. She predicted the future of the people as a fortuneteller. Due to this many people not only from her village but also from many other places came and served the evil spirit in her.

She clearly identified the evil spirit worked in her and she said that there were three spirits worked in her life and she knew their names in her local language. She built three worshiping house for them in her compound and every Friday evening many people gathered together and worshiped the evil spirits and sought for guidance for their business, health and family issues.

The evil spirits took the blood of animals such as lambs, goats and calves. She brought the blood with special traditional cup and put in a hidden place in her compound and the snake came and drinks the blood every day.

One of her children became a Christian and lives in Modjo town and every time he and his pastor Tadesse prayed for this family. And recently something tragic event happened in her family. She lost 6 of her family members in 2 months time intervals just in one year. First her brother died without any sickness, then her sister followed, after that her son hanged himself with rope on the tree in her compound. Again her daughter followed. Then, her grand son found dead in his bedroom. And finally another sister of her died. She realized that all these tragedy happened the as a result of the evil spirits got angry on her because she disobeyed them. She tried all her best to have mercy on her from the evil spirits by sacrificing the blood of many animals. But, the evil spirits manifested and refused to forgive her instead he warned them he would never stop killing the remaining people including her.

On the last funeral of her sister pastor Tadesse and her son went to the village and expressed their condolences. After that Pastor Tadesse approached her and shares the word of God with her and told her that Jesus loves her and if she gives her life to him he is going to set her and her family free from this curse and will give her eternal life. The Holy Spirit convicted her and she has decided to accept Jesus Christ as her personal savior right there. The Pastor prayed openly and led her to Christ. Immediately the power of the Holy Spirit came up on her and the evil spirits manifested. But the pastor and his team prayed for her and rebuked the evil spirits to come out of her. Then immediately the evil spirits obeyed and left her body and she got delivered.

Now this happened 10 months ago. Since then she is free and the whole family came to Christ. Currently we have started a church in her compound and more than 15 people attend in that home church.

Glory to be God!

Damitu and her husband

Our out – reach in Kamash village in Beneshangul Gumuz region

God has given us open door to reach out the Gumuz community by the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Western Ethiopia, Benishangul Gumuz region, Kamash village. This region shares boarder with Sudan so it will be the strategic place to take the Gospel to Sudan.

Pastor Getahun Abebe, one of our master trainers recently visited this town and the church there. There are more than 50 people who are the member of our church. He taught and encouraged them by the word of God to stand still in their faith.

         

Church leaders & a Gumuz woman just came from the market to go in the church.

 

Church Leaders strategic meeting & training in Northen Ethiopia

One of our master trainers named by Pastor Nigussie went to Northen Ethiopia region. The purpose of this mission trip was to train leaders so that they recognize the role of women in church planting movement.

God has given us the opportunity of reaching out many communities in that specific region. They discussed on the issue of the importance of women in reaching out the community. They had good time of executing some strategic plan and prayed together.

Director of Unite 4 Africa, Ethiopia