Dear co-workers, I greet you in the name above all names—Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who called us to serve Him in this generation. It’s our prayer that the Lord keep you and yours safe. We hope that you had a fruitful year in 2022 and are enjoying the new year’s opening celebration. All our kids are doing well and growing healthy; Lydia and Ebenezer are enjoying their school; Bethany has begun to walk. All in all, we are doing well. Praise to the Lord!
“I know what you are doing. See! You do not have much power, but you have obeyed My Word. You have not turned against me. “So I have given you an open door that no man can shut.” Revelation 3:8
Christ opened His letter to Philadelphia by revealing His sovereignty. He is the one who “has the key of David, He who opens, and no one shuts, and shuts, and no one opens.” Jesus possesses the key to the kingdom of God and entrance into eternal life. He told the church in Philadelphia, “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.” When the Lord opens a door for someone, nothing can prevail against it. Philadelphia was a strategic gateway city to a large region that included other metropolises. This location created a strategic opportunity for their ministry. I believe that God has intentionally placed or positioned you where you are; thus, my prayer for you as you begin the new year 2023 is that doors of opportunity for ministry will open before you, as it is written, “Pray that God will open the door for us to preach the word.” Colossians 4:3
| 2022 Ministry Highlights Despite the difficulties we encountered, such as the civil war, drought, famine, and insecurity, God was faithful to transform our lives and the community through us. We were able to achieve the following results in the last twelve months through the efforts of our staff and volunteers under my leadership. Your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Let’s celebrate God’s goodness. Boldly prayer and fasting. Over 13,925 people mobilized and trained for prayer and also praying for the ministry within 390 groups. Village Mapping) We have launched village mapping. 45 national trainers from nine denominations and national ministries are being trained. The Great Commission Ministry of Ethiopia only planned to survey about 4000 Kebles in the fiscal year. Reaching Oral People We have developed 42 stories in Afan Oromo Language (Borena) that will be used for both evangelism, discipleship, and church planting with the collaboration of Storyrunners. Vacation Bible Club 135 children, teenagers and youth participated in Holistic Personal Development Program for a month from 11 July – 5 August, 2022. The program encompasses foundational Bible Class, Physical Exercise, Music, Arst, crafts and Personal development skills. Panel Discussion July 28 and August 6 we had a youth and Parenting Panel discussion where averagely 700 people participated. Training: Over 88,568 people were trained for action, both for evangelism, discipleship, leadership, a healthy marriage, children, and church planting…. Gospel Exposure: Over 1,996,312 people heard the gospel message, Decision for Christ: 86,700 decisions to follow Christ,Follow-up engagement: 38,722 new believers follow up, Planted churches and groups: 702 churches and groups with a membership of 25,506 new believers. Bible Study: 21,054 believers are engaged in weekly bible study within 1594 groups.Your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Let’s take few minutes to celebrate God’s goodness! |
CHANGED LIFE STORY
- The Lost Found!
In the Oromia region, in a village named Miriga, there was an evangelistic training conducted for eighty members of the Miriga church (north of Nekemete). After finalizing the training, the trainees were sent to experience outreach. They went around the village preaching the gospel and demonstrating what they had learned in class. On the way, they encountered a young man named Reta Befekadu. Reta were joined Dilla University from Kombolcha, where his family lived. When he was in his second year, an evil spirit drove him to stop his education and sent him to the wilderness, away from the university and his family’s village. For two years, since 2019, he has been living under trees, in rocky shelters, etc. When the new trainees from the Miriga church found him, they prayed for him. They brought him to church for more prayer to set the young man free from the tormenting evil spirit. Immediately after the prayer, he was set free and was under the follow-up care of missionary Birhanu Chalsisa. When he was completely well, they sent him back to his family at Kombolcha. Praise to the Lord!
2. Power of Prayer: Cancer Disappears!
Desalegn Shamebo, a Great Commission Staff who lives in Hawassa Town in the Sidama region, was
devoted to his ministry and rarely spent time at home.
But one day, his mother fell ill and he rushed her to the hospital. The doctor’s diagnosis was a devastating one, she had breast cancer. Desalegn refused to believe it and kept praying to God for her healing. He refused to accept the doctor’s advice that her breasts should be removed as part of the treatment. No matter how many times he was told it was impossible, Desalegn refused to accept it. The cancer kept spreading and Desalegn’s prayers kept growing. He refused to give up hope and kept believing in the power of healing. He kept on praying and believing that God would work a miracle. Finally, one day when the doctor came to check on his mother, he found she was completely healed. The cancer had disappeared and she was back to her old self. It was a miracle. God had worked a miracle through Desalegn’s prayers and faith. Desalegn thanked God for healing his mother and for the miracle he had worked. He was reminded that God is the God of the impossible. That no matter how impossible the situation seemed, God could still work a miracle.
3. The whole Family Transformed
In the rural village of Kite, located in the outskirts of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, lived a family with an evil curse placed upon them. The family was controlled by an unseen force, and the youngest daughter, unable to ignore its power, heard about Jesus Christ and received Him into her life. The family was, of course, appalled and began to ostracize her for her newfound faith. The power of the curse was so strong that it had taken over one of the sons in the family, making him an insane and dangerous person. The family members were so scared of him that they tied him up in a corner of the house, hoping to contain him. Desperate for help, the family sought out a witch doctor, but he was unable to help them. It was then that the youngest daughter, who had chosen to follow Jesus, suggested that only He could free her brother from the curse. But her suggestion was immediately rebuked, and she was despised for her faith. However, the family eventually gave in to her pleas, and the son was brought to Jesus. To everyone’s amazement, Jesus touched the boy, and the power of the curse was broken, setting him free from its hold. The family was amazed at this miracle and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The youngest daughter was finally accepted by her family and was no longer marginalized. From that day on, the family was truly blessed by the power of Jesus, and the village of Kite was forever changed.
It was a dark and despairing day. The family of the young boy had gathered around him as he lay dying in his bed, his body becoming weaker by the minute. Everyone was in shock and distress, unable to comprehend what was happening. The boy’s mother, in her desperation, had asked her Christian daughter to call someone from the church to pray for her son. The daughter quickly complied and called the church planter, Gemechu Kaba. When Gemechu arrived at the house, he was met by a scene of chaos. Everyone was shouting and crying, and the atmosphere was thick with pain and sorrow. Gemechu quickly took control of the situation and asked everyone to be silent. He then began to preach the gospel, his words calming the distraught family and bringing them some solace. Finally, Gemechu prayed for the boy and rebuked the evil spirit that was afflicting him. Suddenly, the young man was freed from his torment, and everyone was filled with joy. As Gemechu continued to preach and many in the house accepted Jesus Christ, a new church was quickly formed. The family was filled with gratitude and joy at the miraculous work of the Lord in their lives. Not only had their son been healed, but they had also experienced the power of the gospel and been brought closer to God. This was only the beginning. From that day forward, a church planter named Gemechu Kaba regularly visited the family and helped them to deepen their faith and knowledge of the Bible. Together, they all experienced the joy of being part of the family of God.
PRAISE AND PRAYER ITEMS
Praise:
Praise the Lord for the health and peace that the Lord has given to my family and my team
Praise the Lord for the wonderful ministry results we have seen in 2022
Prayer Item:
Pray for spiritual growth and our relationship with the Lord.
Please pray for continued ministry success in 2023
Pray for our financial and needed resources provision
Making My Generation God's Generals 