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NORTHERN ETHIOPIA: The Hardest Areas in Ethiopia for Christianity
Northern Ethiopia is 95% Muslim and Eastern Orthodox. Let that sink in for a moment.
Only 5% of the population here are followers of Jesus. Yet that is where God has sent us on this trip to teach church leaders how to study and communicate God's Word.
This morning in Mer Awi there were over 120 church and emerging leaders packed in and around the small church to learn. They are starving for knowledge. There are the first generation in which they have seen churches planted and grown in this hostile area.
Many of those in attendance this week walked over 3 hours to attend the training. God is moving in a unique way right now in this area of Northern Ethiopia.
And you are part of it. You pray for us, encourage us, and financially support this ministry. You are making a difference in a hard tough part of the world.
This group was much
younger - more from the city. They also
seemed to have no trouble reading and writing with the notes. There were about 127 from 5 Churches and
Three Denominations.
ON the second day -
rather than going through the James Notes - I asked them what they learned the
day before during the discussion on James.
I then took what they told me and started teaching the appropriate chapter
of James rather than go in sequential order.
Also … I found
better understanding if I broke each chapter lesson into the dichotomy of the
wise follower of Jesus and the unwise.
The wise man kept
joy in his heart while the unwise man panicked and didn't trust the Lord
The wise man chooses
not to treat/judge/value people by their outward appearance - the unwise does.
The wise man
understands the power of his words and chooses to bless people with them - the
unwise lacks understanding of the power of his words and causes wounds and
destroys others with them
The wise man is not
a source of problems but rather is one who is a solver of problems. This also could spill into the wise man is selfless - have
the attitude of a servant. The foolish
man is a man who causes problems due to his selfishness.
The wise man is
patient and prayerful whereas the foolish man is neither.
This seemed to
resonate clearer with them people when I took this approach.
 I wish that somehow I could convey their gratitude for what you have made possible. Words will never be enough. We finish tomorrow, but have already agreed to five more circuits of over 20 villages in Northern Ethiopia as God provides. Please continue to pray hand help us to equip the leaders of Ethiopia to preach/teach Gods Word.  |
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