2009 Trip to Ethiopia

Leaving the USA early Monday morning May 11th 2009, my flight left from BWI airport, to Detroit, then to Amsterdam, Holland, where I met up with the rest of the ministry team (Apostle David Kenney, Christian Growth Cathedral; Apostle Nathan Byrd, The Worship Center; Deacon Arthur Stephens, Christian Growth Cathedral) our final destination was Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We were all greeted by the host Pastor, Tesfaws Wegari who set up the leadership conference in Awassa, located within the southern region of Ethiopia. Pastor Tesfaws Wegari is an Assemblies of God Pastor and superintendent of the southern region of the Assemblies of God Churches in Ethiopia where he is directly responsible for 12 churches. Pastor Tesfaws Wegari has been appointed to return some time at the end of the year or the beginning of next year to the Assemblies of God headquarters in Addis Ababa to assume his new post as the head of teaching to all the Assemblies of God Churches throughout all Ethiopia.

Early the next morning, we visited the market-place in Addis, the Muslim-quarter, before taking a 4-5 hour road trip to Awassa, the southern region within Ethiopia, and some 275 km south of the capital city, Addis Ababa. The ministry team arrived later that afternoon and we took care of our lodging for the next several days. We used the next day as a free day to recover from the long trip from the USA, as well to use that day to begin preparations for the leadership conference. Early Thursday morning the team had breakfast and left for the leadership conference scheduled to start at 9:00am that morning. The first session was conducted by Apostle David Kenney, teaching on Kingdom Principles. To be followed by Apostle Curtis Schulze, teaching on the Grace Gifts of the Holy Spirit. To end the day’s session, Apostle Nathan Byrd did a teaching on Worship and the Tabernacle of David. Later that Evening the team spent some time with Pastor Tesfaws, before Apostle David Kenney did a further teaching on Kingdom Principles at the local Assemblies of God Church in Awassa. The second day of the leadership conference was a continuation of the first day with Apostle David Kenney teaching on Kingdom Principles, Apostle Curtis Schulze continuing on Spiritual Gifts, as well Apostle Nathan Byrd on Worship. On average each day drew close to 50-60 pastors, leaders, and ministers from different denominations all over the southern region. The majority of pastors, leaders, and ministers were from the Assemblies of God Churches within the southern region. Later that evening Apostle Nathan Byrd did a teaching on God’s material provision, called “no more crumbs”.

The next day the team took in some of the local sites, learning more about the people and the culture of Awassa. Later that afternoon the team met up with Pastor Ali who traveled in from Addis Ababa, where he pastor’s a local Church. Pastor Ail is a former Muslim converted to Christ, and has a strong ministry to reach the Muslim people. Pastor Ali had traveled to Awassa to meet up with the ministry team for an important meeting, which was later concluded in Addis before we traveled back to America. Pastor Ali is one of the first Pastor’s we met in country 3 years ago. We found out from Pastor Ali that an important Muslim Clergy had been converted to Christ, furthering the cause of the Kingdom. That evening Apostle Curtis Schulze did a teaching on the need for change, and the courage required to access that change.

Sunday morning the team split up and went in different directions in order to cover more ground and reach out to more Church’s in Ethiopia. Apostle David Kenney continued in Awassa, with the local Assemblies of God Church; while Apostle Nathan Byrd was taken to another Assemblies of God Church in the local area. Apostle Curtis Schulze traveled 70 km further south down the Great Rift Valley to another town called Alletawondo, to an Assemblies of God Church, Pastor Wondimu Neta. The day started out very early because of the distance needed to travel. I arrived at the destination early and used the time to meet the people and fellowship with the saints. The teaching was on Salvation and sanctification (spiritual growth), taking off the old-man and putting on the new-man. On the way back to Awassa, we took time to meet the local people and enjoy the Great Rift Valley. The next day we traveled back to Addis Abba a few days before we had to return back to the USA. The Ministry team received very positive feed back from all the Churches and local Pastor’s of Awassa, and they were very grateful for the ministry.