The first crusade of the «Christ is the Answer» mission in Africa: evangelism and support for the churches of Ethiopia
In April, the second mission trip to Ethiopia took place. In the beginning of 2021, Taras Sen, director of the «Christ is the Answer» mission, visited this country for the first time.
Inspired by his ministry on this continent, he returned to Ethiopia only a few months later to continue God’s work. This time, a whole team of workers came with the minister: children’s and family minister Iryna Sen (wife of Taras), team-leader of the media department of the mission Denys Gorbachevskiy, as well as the guest of the ministry program – the director of the «Agape» mission in Ukraine, Sergiy Nesteruk.
The missionary crusade lasted from April 12 to 22. The schedule was busy: teaching at a mission school for pastors and church leaders, recording christian TV programs on local television, street evangelizing, training in conducting eye clinics, children’s sports events, family meetings, Sunday schools, and women’s ministries. About everything in order.
Why Ethiopia: about the purpose of the trip
It is worth noting that although Ethiopia is traditionally a Christian country, approximately 34% of the population is Muslim. Christians often suffer harassment, especially if they live in an Islamic culture. Moreover, poverty is rampant in the country. Despite the fact that Ethiopia is a land of picturesque places with unique nature and animals, which attracts tourists so much, the inhabitants suffer a shortage. There are a large number of sick and addicted people in the country, even children are often left without adult supervision and use psychotropic substances.
The team had two big goals: to support christian ministers by passing on many years of experience, and to conduct evangelistic events so that non-believers would hear about Christ.
Mission school, TV program recording
The team spent the first two days in the country in the capital, Addis Ababa. Taras taught pneumatology (the science of the Holy Spirit) at the mission school, using photos from Israel in the presentation, he talked about the life of Jesus Christ. One student noted that he had never been in a class with visual teaching methods before. He thanked the minister for the form of the lesson, because this way the material is much better absorbed.
In the capital of the country, Taras Sen recorded four TV programs on topical topics: about Easter, about fatherhood and about true repentance. Very soon, the programs will be broadcast on a local TV channel.
Large-scale missionary crusade
On the third day, the team went to the south of Ethiopia for the main event – the crusade (large open-air evangelization) in the city of Shinshicho. For local pastors, missionaries, and church members, the ministers prepared a sermon on «The Four Errors of Cain».
A particularly important part of the program was the training of the local team in the principles of conducting eye clinics and children’s sports events. After discussing all the theoretical issues, the ministers immediately moved on to practice. The first children’s holiday, consisting of a Bible lesson, sports games, a trampoline and sweets, was attended by more than 200 children. In parallel, the ministry of eye clinics was launched, where local residents could check their eyesight and get free glasses.
To organize the evangelization, the mission purchased a trampoline and other equipment, which was given to the minister and partner of the «Voice of Salvation» mission, Mekbib Mulat, for further use. The mission also blessed local ministers with the necessary equipment to conduct eye clinics.
On the second day of the crusade, about 4 thousand people came to the meeting. After the worship block, there was a sermon, a call to repentance, and a prayer for the sick. «We thank the Lord that many have opened their hearts to Him on this day. God healed people and freed them from unclean spirits. God’s Grace worked very strongly», says brother Taras. Local ministers participated in the organization and holding of the crusade: the order group, the prayer group, the worship group, etc.
A holiday for children. Eye clinics. Evangelism to muslims
The next point of the mission trip was the town of Bale Robe, where the team took part in a meeting of the local church. At the same place, the ministers organized a holiday for children and an eye clinic. About 50 children came to the children’s event: these are children from the Evangelical and Orthodox churches, as well as muslims.
Not only Orthodox and Evangelical believers, but also muslims came to check their eyesight at the ophthalmology clinic. The ministers expressed their gratitude for this charity event, as they immediately saw the real results – the muslims who came to get glasses listened to Jesus while waiting for their turn. As they helped themselves to coffee and listened to Pastor Taras, you could hear them whisper «This is a good man, Allah has sent him to us!».
The mission’s ministers wanted to share their experience in organizing and conducting eye clinics and children’s evangelizations with local ministers, because these are excellent methods for preaching the Gospel. With these tools, you can constantly work for the good of society, bringing people to Jesus.
Family service and assistance to the poor
Next, the Ukrainian team was hosted by the city of Debre Zeyit. 11 families gathered there – pastors and their wives. For them, the missionaries spent a pleasant evening, where they told how to organize and conduct family services in churches. One young missionary thanked the team and told a story. When he was 3 months old, his parents divorced, and he grew up with his father for 18 years. Not having a mother around, not seeing the warmth and care that a woman can show, he could not even imagine what the relationship in the family should be like. But such meetings helped him to understand how God looks at the family.
The mission staff visited the poor families and blessed them with food. As mentioned earlier, there are a huge number of people in need in the country. Many believers live in difficult conditions, but this does not prevent them from loving the Lord and serving Him faithfully.
And so the two weeks of the mission trip came to an end. Members of the Ethiopian church did not want to let the Ukrainian team go home. The ministers experienced extraordinary feelings: joy and inspiration from how God touched many hearts in the African country through their ministry.
The «Christ is the Answer» mission is grateful to the Lord that this trip brought many non-believers to know Jesus. Christians in such a remote part of the world from Ukraine received tremendous support. And since Ethiopia is at the heart of the mission, the service will definitely continue there.
To be continued!
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