Ethiopia: Reaching the Unreached
As the small group of pastors traveled 125 miles north from Ethiopia’s capital, they passed through dry highlands with ploughed fields waiting for rain – perhaps a metaphor for what they were about to encounter in Kuyou, a town in the Selale Oromo tribal area.
Gathered together in a small, rented house were about 50 of the Selale church leaders, some of whom had walked nine hours to attend the regional meeting. The visiting pastors shared the Word with the young leaders and led them in a time of worship and prayer.
“They received every word spoke like a dry sponge,” said Jurgen Rudolph, one of the visiting pastors and regional superintendent for East Africa. “Our time of prayer and worship penetrated every inch of their hearts.”
Send the Rain
It seems the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world is eager for a new move of the Holy Spirit. Since the fall of the Marxist regime in 1991, there has been unprecedented freedom for worship and witness.
Evangelical and Pentecostal groups are considered the fastest growing faiths in Ethiopia.
“This is the season for Ethiopia, and the people are hungry and open to the Word,” said Hiruy Tsige, administrative bishop of the Harvest Church of God in Ethiopia.
This openness is a miracle considering Ethiopia’s past. When the country was controlled by Communists, church leaders, including Hiruy Tsige, had to endure months of imprisonment and torture by the regime. Some lost their lives. Hiruy Tsige was arrested at gunpoint together with 460 of his church members, who were pressured to renounce their faith and to commit themselves not to preach anymore. Many of them stayed in prison for weeks, Brother Tsige for seven months.
Now, as Islamic extremists threaten the Ethiopian government for accommodating the United States in its war against terrorism, the country is allowing and even promoting evangelical churches in an effort to counteract the aggressive and sometimes violent Islamic struggle for power.
Ironically, the threat of Islam is also changing and revitalizing the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Evangelical/charismatic cell groups, springing up within its archaic structures, are no longer repressed, but tolerated and even welcomed as a means of counterbalancing the influence of Islam.
Ripe for the Harvest
Under these favorable conditions, the Harvest Church of God in Ethiopia has grown to 29,000 baptized adult members in 110 congregations.
“One aspect of our work is ministering to children through kindergarten schools and sports programs,” explained Brother Tsige. “Some of the world-record runners come from these areas, and athletics is an attractive activity for young kids. We have established a number of athletic clubs to evangelize and disciple them.”
Also, with financial support from the initiative by Church of God World Missions to evangelize unreached people groups, the Harvest Church of God has established 22 congregations among the Selale Oromo people during the last four years.
“The Selale Oromo people group ministry has become one of the most encouraging works we have started so far,” said Brother Tsige. “This is an area where many church groups have tried to evangelize in the past, put failed and faced persecution.”
While many of the Selales claim to be Orthodox Christian, they practice witchcraft and are known for their loose morals. Historically, they are renowned as an aggressive people who have killed missionaries. According to Brother Tsige, there has been hardly and evangelical witness among them.
“These people are bound by fear of the spirits, witchdoctors and the unknown,” said Brother Tsige. “They live promiscuous lives and are heavily involved in the consumption of strong alcoholic drinks. They kill each other over small fights. That’s why they need to have an encounter with the Lord Jesus – to be set free of their bondages and find the meaning of life.
“Even though there are still pockets of opposition, village after village, people are coming to the Lord every day,” he continued. “Our vision is to go into more hills and valleys to proclaim the good news of salvation to the thousands who have never heard about the name of Jesus.”
Rachel Ethun, Church of God World Missions
. . . . . © 2008 Church of God World Missions
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