Global consultants see God's glory in Ethiopia's ancient Biblical country
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering. Zep 3:10 (NRSV)
Tsehaywota Taddessee beams with enthusiasm when he describes the mission statement of his church -- the Addis Kidan Baptist Churches (AKBC). "It says Addis Kidan's mission is that we are here for the glory of the Lord," said Taddessee, chairman of AKBC. "And this is realized through a holistic ministry to human beings, so that they will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and that they will be released from other bondage."
Taddassee must be pleased with the glory the Lord has received as since 1989, when the Addis Kidan churches officially became a denomination. There are over 70 churches and preaching points throughout Ethiopia, with over 13,000 baptized believers and many programs confronting HIV/AIDS, poverty and lack of clean water and sanitation, among other forms of bondage.
It was in this context in Ethiopia -- an African country with a Christian history older and richer than much of the missionary sending West -- the global consultants of International Ministries (IM) gathered for the third time in just over three years. They were joined by Rev. Charles Jones, their area director, and Bishop Malkhaz Songulashvili of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia.
Global consultants were conceived of by IM as it realized there was a need for a certain type of missionary -- one who was not residential-based, but rather issue-focused. These persons would not only cross-cultures in one context, but multiple contexts to bring the good news of God in Christ in partnership with Christians around the world. But the realization was also because some of our missionaries were already being called upon to share their experience and expertise in various forms of service to women and children at-risk, or evangelism in non-Christian, cross-cultural situations.
This use of global consultants -- officially approved in 2002 -- has led to four positions, of a projected eight positions. Current consultants are Lauren Bethell in ministry to at-risk women and children; Dan Buttry in peace, justice and conflict transformation; Mike Mann in rural economic development and Walter White in cross-cultural evangelism. Jeff Sharp was a consultant in theological education. He now pastors in Canada.
Since forming as a group, the team of global consultants has met in the Republic of Georgia, Italy and during the end of January and beginning of February 2007 in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia represented a new frontier for American Baptist missions. The Southern Baptists had been very strong in this country for decades, and IM's hosts were Ray and Lauralee Lindholm, former SBC-missionaries who left after the communist takeover in Ethiopia in the mid-1970s. After more than 25 years of wondering if they would ever get back, they returned as retirees who were surprised by God to find a thriving Baptist community, which has come of age really since the absence of many missionaries.
The present general secretary of Addis Kidan is Ermias Zenebe, who is only 37 years old. Ermias became a Christian in 1993, is married and has two children. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Evangelical Theological College in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Zenebe, who became general secretary in 2004, represents the generally youthful, passionate and entrepreneurial team of women and men leading AKBC churches.
After a week of traveling to various churches and projects in Addis Ababa, the outskirts of the city, and even villages off of no road hours away, the global consultants were refreshed and renewed to share with AKBC church leaders on Saturday, Feb. 2 in a series of workshops and worship services. Zenebe said in feedback from the more than 90 pastors and leaders who attended, that "God showed new areas of ministry in our lives," and he hopes for future partnership with IM. In the pages that follow, learn more about the ministry of our global consultants as they reflect on their experience in the horn of Africa.
-- Marlon Millner