Kalkidan and family w/ Ellie

What is happening at Holle Sire

Holle Sire is located in the Western part of Ethiopia 130 miles from Addis Ababa, the capital. The regional government considers it as the remotest part of the region. All the community in the area are farmers.

In the area there is one wizard. He is worshiped by most of the people. He almost rules the area. He has 12 wives and one of them is his own sister. He has more than one hundred children. Currently such witch doctor activity is viewed as an Oromo traditional religion and is authorized by the Oromia regional government, by calling it waqa feta. It is considered as one of the religions like Christianity and Islam.

The wizard, by having political support, economical power and religious followers in the area, has become like a king of the area. Two months ago I was there to visit churches. We have six churches in that area. One of them was facing persecution at that time. They received land from the local government and started building a church. While they were in the middle of building, the government officials came to them and commanded them to stop work. They even ordered them to dismantle what they had already built. When they asked why, the officials told them that it is the territory of the wizard. Fortunately I was able to speak to the district officials in the village. They had a big meeting with the village leaders. I had a good discussion with them. After that they allowed them to continue building the church and stopped the wizard from bothering Christians in the area. But actually he continued his bad activity against church plantings.

Three years ago God opened the door wide to planting churches in the middle of this situation and to winning people for Christ. God has used people of the area for the evangelization of the community. One person came to Addis Ababa to seek a better life. He was hired as a guard in one of our local churches, Mekanisa Addis Kidan Baptist Church. Our Lord Jesus Christ touched his life and he became converted. God also burdened him to evangelize his community. He decided to spend his off times from his work with his village people. While doing that on several trips the community observed his life change and he got their attention. He preached the gospel and won energetic passionate leaders of the community. Currently there are six churches around the area with a total membership of 700 baptized, 1500 children, as well as many non-baptized people.

Abebe Lechisa, the chair person of the village, was one of the first converted people. He has taken the lead in the evangelization of the area. He is not only the leader of the community, but he is also a man who is in a good economic situation. He has a grain grinding mill which works by diesel. Since the day of his conversion he has given all his life for Christ. The church started gathering in his house. Whenever guests went to that community he is the one who hosts the guests in a good way. He travels in the neighborhood and tells the gospel to his people, encourages new believers, and protects the churches from any attack. In my observation he is a key person for that area work.

Satan is working currently to paralyze the work of Holle Sire. As a strategy he targets brother Abebe to discourage him. Ten days ago they had a spiritual conference and a wedding in a neighboring church of Holle Sire. All believers of the six local churches gathered in that church. They invited all the non-believing community and all attended the program. Not only the believers, but also all the non-believing community members were so excited about the conference. All the community came, even the main people of the wizard. Abebe was the leader of all this activity. On the last day, last Thursday, they all went to their houses. Abebe arrived at 9:00 pm. He was tired so he was quickly in a deep sleep.

Abebe heard loud shouts around 3:00 am. Since he was tired he felt as if he was in a dream. The shouting increased. He heard a big knock on his door. He woke up and jumped up from his bed. His father called him and informed him that something was burning around their grinding mill. When they arrived there, they found all the community trying to stop the fire. Everything was almost burned up by the fire by that time. They tried with all their effort to stop it but they couldn’t do it since there is no source of water in the village. The fire burned the grinding mill and the property. They lost everything in a few hours. The machine, the house and other properties are worth about 65,000 Ethiopian Birr which is $7,500. They are farmers so it is a huge amount of money for them.

I was there yesterday to visit and encourage them and all the believers in the area. Both Abebe and his father said, “It is not the property we feel sad about but why the people do this while we are doing good for them.”

All the community gathered together and discussed it. All of them were weeping and were saying, “It is not only Abebe and his father’s property. It is ours. People who did this are our enemies.”

We encouraged them with the word of God to be strong in the Lord while they are in such a hard situation. We also encouraged them that God could return what they lost in his own ways. Their plan now is to reinstall another machine if God provides a way and continue their commitment for the Lord. Abebe suspects the wizard did it by hiring another person.

I asked them to make a brief survey about the price to reinstall the machine. The total price needed is 30,000 Ethiopian Birr which is $3500.

Encouraging Abebe is encouraging Holle Sire area work, hastening the evangelization of that area, and delivering all that area from the bondage of the devil. Pray for him, tell other people about him, and do whatever God shows you to encourage him.


Ermias Zenebe
General Secretary, Ethiopian Addis Kidan Baptist Church.

just a pic

It is like Holocaust !!

Just 10 miles from our home.




Please pray with us!

Updated Website Info...

For Bingham Academy in the previous post.
Thanks

An Opportunity for You

Bingham Academy is a Christian school here in Addis Ababa. There are openings for teachers at the school for the coming school year. There is no salary for teaching at the school, each teacher must be self-supported. It is considered the best academic school in the country, so children from all over the world are educated there. Actually, more than twenty countries are represented. It is really a mission field. If you are qualified with K-8 certification or a major in the HS subject area and interested contact us for more information. You may contact the recruiter directly, also.

Chances are if you are reading this then you would pass the litmus to live with us during your stay. An estimate of expenses for the school year would not exceed $8,000, and this includes airfare!

And, if you are and SBCer, then you could even get a stipend.

Here is a quick rundown of the openings:

High School (August 07 – June 08)
English
Business Studies and Economics
History
Computer
Physics (August-January only)

6th Grade (August 07 – June 08)

1st Grade (January-June 2008)

Photos from Bible Study

Ahyo, Imabaet, Muhaba, Haile, Yoseph, Weder, Pipo, Amber, Haileyesus, Ellie, Joe

GOD is LOVE

(1 John 4:7-19)

I have for some time now had good intentions of writing some meditations about the LOVE OF GOD. If we, by HIS help, can fix our thoughts on this reality then our hearts and affections follow so quickly with love to HIM. The Apostle John is a superb example for us, and this portion of scripture serves us immensely concerning this matter. The text brings us immediately to a personal GOD, who is or ought to be the object of our love and worship and life.
To know who and what GOD is has been a vast mystery that has vexed the minds and souls of our race’s greatest thinkers. So to read of this truth so plainly spelled out for us in the Scriptures is quite astonishing.
The apostle here begins with the familiar Christian saying, “let us love one another”, but he doesn’t stop there. He must continue on, for our benefit, and trace the flood to the fountain by stating, “love is from GOD”. Therefore, love is divine, and proceeds from the nature of GOD alone. So wherever divine love prevails, it does so because of a new nature, from above, implanted by the regenerating work of the HOLY SPIRIT. Is this not exactly what John says; “everyone who loves is born of GOD and knows GOD”, and contrastingly as well, “the one who does not love, does not know GOD, for GOD IS LOVE”.
John is not content with generalities here, and thus continues on and refers us to that great, stupendous manifestation of DIVINE LOVE in the incarnation; “the love of GOD was manifested toward us, that GOD has sent HIS only begotten SON into the world so that we might live through HIM.” One result of this sending of HIS SON was propitiatory. Propitiation proves love, love to sinners especially. (1 Jn. 2:1-2) Propitiatory love is a chief demonstration to us of the Supreme splendor of GOD. The LOVE OF GOD being poured out within our hearts (Romans 5:5) displays more of GOD to us than all works or signs.
Throughout these verses there is this thread connecting the love in GOD’S nature, the love in the atonement, the love in JESUS, and the love in the Church. And the clear explanation is that it is the same love flowing from GOD to us via HIS chosen path, which is HIS TRIUNE work of accomplishing our redemption.
The second place where John explicitly states that ‘GOD IS LOVE’ gives us magnificent application for life; “if you abide in love, you abide in GOD and HE abides in you”. The ONE who made you, who has sustained you, and who has redeemed you makes HIS abode in you. The Love of God ought to be our habitation! We must live there, never going ought, or, going out soon to return. HIS LOVE should be our atmosphere, where we live and breathe and love. How is this possible? HE has accomplished it all for us.
Consider the final verse in this passage. “We love, because HE first loved us.” And loving us, HE conquered all barriers to us living in HIM and for HIM in all things.

Greetings in March...

Well, please accept my apologies for not keeping you all very updated. We have been busy and I have just been a procrastinator. Now I am facing the issue of too many topics to include in one short update. But I will attempt it anyway, just ignore the sporadic topics and pray for them each if you will.

This is Kaleb, I have known him for over 3 years. Kaleb is a minister in a local church here in Addis Ababa. He was born crippled, and has lived with the disability for his entire life. One of his legs is underdeveloped, much smaller and shorter than the other one. He can walk, however it is with an immense limp. He doesn’t cease to move about the town and do the work of the ministry. As of late, his leg is giving him more and more problems. He has asked that we pray for him concerning his leg. It is catching, or locking at the knee while walking and this is a terrible situation here with the traffic. Please pray that God would grant him healing and assistance with his leg.



Faiza is at home now! It is amazing really, and we hope to visit her soon and provide pictures for you all to see. Continue to pray for her progress, as she is not yet walking on her own.

PTI is fast approaching. Do not cease lifting up this opportunity that has been provided to train these men that God has raised up to pastor His churches among the un-reached of Ethiopia.

Our adoption process is proceeding well, as far as we can tell. We have finished the first major part (home study) and will now continue as the Lord provides and grants direction for us.

We are hosting 10-15 of our friends each Saturday night in our home for bible study and dinner. It is good time in the Lord. Pray for these times; that God would assist and give us fellowship in His Son. We have had some Orthodox people join us on several occasions. Pray that God would teach us how to serve them and honor Him in doing so.

Prayer Update

Thank you all for your prayers. The latest update we have on Faiza is that she is eating food and recognizing people more consistently. The surgery on her collarbone was one week ago and all went well from what we have heard.

We are doing fine, I helped Joe drill several days within the past two weeks in a village about 60 miles outside of the city. We are using the technique that I learned in Bolivia summer 2005.

As the day approaches we are excited about PTI and all the Lord appears to be doing here in Ethiopia. My primary reason for writing this brief update is to inform you of specific situations that are currently happening here in Ethiopia. One specific place where we hope that a church will be planted is in a city called Jigjiga. The other circumstance is in the southern part of the country close the border with Kenya.

Please read the highlighted links for complete understanding.
Thanks to you all again!
Anthony & Amber

Picture Update...

I do not plan to update with an entry everytime that new pictures are available. However, I will change the Picture that you see just below to the right. if you notice a different picture, then new ones have been added for you to view.
Thanks for praying for us.
Let us hear from you.

NOTICE !!

We have added a photo section to the right of this entry just below the links. Take a look when you get a chance.

Faiza

On Sunday, while we were returning from preaching at a national denomination
gathering, Yoseph, Joe, and I came upon a young (about 10) girl who had been
run over by a car. The driver had left the scene and there were hundreds of
people gathered around. Two guys flagged us down and told us what had
happened, so we put the girl in the truck with her older brother and two of
his friends and proceeded to the hospital. She was motionless, unconscious,
and bleeding from the massive gashes on her face and head. Her torso was
skinned from her hips to her chest.
We left her at the military hospital, which was the closest one to the
scene. Later in the day on Sunday they moved her to the large public
hospital and performed surgery to stop the internal bleeding. Monday, she
remained comatose but the doctors were hopeful for her recovery.
Twenty-four hours before there had been little hope, other than God healing
her. The driver did turn himself in to the police later in the evening,
stating that he was fearful of being beaten to death by the mob that always
gathers following these type of accidents.
We have had contact with the driver and he has mentioned concern for his
soul, so please pray that we can maintain contact and that the Lord would be
pleased to use us in his life.

Tuesday morning when we called to check on Faiza, her family informed us
that she had come out of the coma and begun to speak. An amazing miracle
really, two days before I was not sure if she would live or not and now
awake and communicating. Please pray with us for her, she is from a Muslim
family. I will update again soon.

Pastors Training Institute

Pastor’s Training Institute

The Lord has been so incredibly gracious to us in such a short time here in Ethiopia. After only one month on the ground we have a training program (PTI) implemented and set to begin mid-April. The Institute will train men for the work of the ministry by teaching them systematically though the major Biblical doctrines. We are eager to begin this work and see what the Lord’s pleasure will be in this opportunity.
 
In the initial stages of the Institute the men receiving the training will be men who were chosen to be sent out of their local churches to plant churches in areas previously un-reached by the gospel. Our prayer is that the Institute will eventually also be available to those presently serving as a pastor or minister but lack the adequate training to do the work of the ministry.
 
In order for this to come to fruition, we are dependent upon the Lord for His provision in many areas. First, we are reliant on God to continue to raise up men who are called to the work of ministry and gift them accordingly. Then, there is the clear need for God to send men to Ethiopia to assist in the training of these pastors. He is providing for this even now in these early days of preparation. Kurt Strassner and Scott Duley are planning to travel to Addis Ababa in mid-April to inaugurate the Institute, by expounding for two weeks on the Doctrine of God. While here, Kurt will also teach a class in the Baptist Bible College on Christian Ethics. Many other men have expressed interest in aiding in the work of PTI. From pastors in the USA, to seminary students and professors, to other pastors and church leaders throughout Africa, we have had remarkable interest in this chance to train Ethiopian pastors.
 
One other significant need is the financial provision for the men receiving the training. In order for the men to travel into the city, lodge for two weeks, and eat it will cost about $50 per person.  Please pray that God will provide this for the 70+ ministers who are planning to attend. If you plan to invest in the Kingdom by giving, then notify me by email <mailto:armathenia@gmail.com>  for specific details.
 
 
It is impossible for us to sufficiently express the gratitude we have for you all and for your continued prayers. We have completed most of the preliminary requirements for the adoption and now must gather some necessary documents and play the waiting game for a bit. Thank you all for your interest and encouragement regarding our desire to grow as a family.
 
We would love to hear from some of you that we have yet to hear from since our arrival. We love you and are praying for you.

January 25, 2007

During the last two weeks I have been working on the curriculum for the
training of the Addis Kidan pastors/churchplanters. Today I met with Ermais
to go over the curriculum and to discuss the plans. It is an in-depth
curriculum beginning with God then moving on to man, sin, and salvation.
Under the appropriate topics I have included cultural issues that need to be
addressed such as angels and practical evangelism for Muslims and Orthodox.
Ermais was beyond pleased with the curriculum and had no changes to make.
Later Alem, one of the other denominational leaders, called me to say that
Ermais had shown the curriculum outline to him and that he is so happy with
the theology that is lined out there. We are delighted that the leaders
seem to be in agreement with all.

It also seems that God is planning to add to our family. After the
frustrations we encountered on our last trip here, we had given up on the
possibility of adoption while living in Addis. We have continued to ask the
Lord to add in His timing, but adoption seemed impossible. However, recently
I was helping a friend of mine look for a car. The owner of the car is a
man who runs an orphanage for a US agency that we met with previously
concerning adoption. He told me that a social worker from the US would be
in the city within two days if we wanted to meet with her. During our
meeting with her we found out that adoption while living here is a
possibility and that her agency is willing to help us. She put us in
contact with a social worker that is living here but is licensed in the
states, which is the requirement. Christ Church has given us their support
and encouragement to continue in the process so we plan to meet with the
social worker for our home study this weekend, trusting that the Lord will
provide the necessary finances.

The worker plans to finish the home study report within two weeks. We also
have to go to the American Embassy to be fingerprinted and to have an FBI
background check run. This usually takes about a month to come back. In the
meantime we will try to gather the necessary documents for our dossier.
When everything is together our file will be sent to Kenya for approval,
which takes approximately three months. Any time after that a child can be
placed with us. Lord willing, we will return to the states in August with a
new Mathenia where we will complete the other necessary legal processes to
declare the child a US citizen. We are surprised and excited by this
opportunity. We do ask for your prayers in this process.

Over the last week we have hosted a couple, Doug and Meseret, from the
northern part of Ethiopia called McKele. They came into Addis for the IOI
Bible conference and needed a place to stay. Their visit was an incredible
blessing to us as we enjoyed real fellowship around God¹s Word. Meseret is
an Ethiopian who was physically persecuted by her own family when she turned
to Christ alone for salvation. She and Doug have been faithfully sharing
the gospel with her family and praying for their conversions. They are
like-minded believers who are praying for God¹s direction in where he would
have them to minister. Please join them in their prayers, that they would
be used for the spread of God¹s glory in Ethiopia. (The area where they
live is one of the places that the Addis Kidan plans to send church
planters.)

We thank God for youŠfor your concern and prayers. Let us press on.

The Results from...

The meeting on Monday with the denominational leaders far exceeded our
expectations. After sharing about our desire to see churches planted
among the masses of un-reached/un-evangelized in Ethiopia, I was shown
a document that outlined a detailed plan for reaching the un-reached
peoples in 8 of the 9 regions of the country. Not only that, they
have identified men that are willing and ready for this task...72 of
them. The plan includes sending them out by twos to plant churches in
these 36 remote areas. The reason they have not pushed forward with
this plan is because they lack the ability to facilitate the training
and they lack the finances to support these ministers. There is money
pouring in for humanitarian/development efforts, but a minuscule
amount for this purpose...for the spread of the gospel.

I was given freedom and flexibility in the method and manner of the
training of these church planters. At this point I thought, "OK...we
have 8 months to plan and then maybe we can begin when we return."
However, when I asked what kind of time frame we were looking at, I
was informed that these men are ready to begin as soon as training is
provided. They have the facilities to lodge the ministers, feed them,
and hold the sessions when they come into the city.

Another encouraging aspect is that these men are already ministering
in their local church and will be sent by their church to the village
of the new church plant. The denomination has built in expectations of
the ministers. They have to be called by God to do the work of the
ministry and to show evidence of the gifts of that calling. They have
to be presently active in the ministry at their local churches, in
good standing with the elders and church leaders.

We, as you may imagine, were already in complete amazement at all
these things. Then we read from the Daily Light this morning...
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His
might."-"Falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land."-"Fight
the Lord's battles."-"Be strong, all you people of the land, declares
the Lord. Work...Fear not."-"Lift up your eyes and see that the
fields are white for harvest."-"Yet a little while, and the coming One
will come, and will not delay."

What can we say to these things? It seems that God has gone before us
and prepared a path for us to tread.

This is really more than we could have ever expected, and we feel that
temptation to look for the fallout or the reality lurking that it may
not be so. It is really more of doubting self rather than God.
However, lack of believing God is still at the root. Please pray the
God will bring this to fruition and honor His Son among the
Ethiopians.

We imagined training ministers in the city and maybe seeing some
reform in them, and possibly of few of them going among the
un-reached, but to consider the opportunity of training men to go into
un-reached areas, to risk their physical lives, and to preach the
gospel is more than we could have ever dreamed up. It is so serious
and weighty for us. It ought to be for us all. We must pray
fervently and consistently for these men...even though we don't know
them. Also, please pray the God would send men with hearts burdened
for this aspect of His kingdom work to pour out their lives into these
ministers of the gospel.

May God make this the burning passion of our hearts (yours and ours)
and grant us grace to pour out spetitions to Him...That we would love
His glory and long for the spread of His kingdom across this land.

Greetings...

Well, here is the first attempt at keeping in contact. I cannot open
any blogs here right now for some reason, but I am attempting to
update via email.

We are doing well. God is as always amazingly faithful. Having Steven,
Lauren, and Justin here for a week was a superior blessing than we
could have imagined. Lauren helped Amber get unpacked, organized, and
settled as much as possible in a week's time. Steven and Justin were
able to go with me to the IOI prayer time and other ministry
opportunities that God is apparently opening up. We were able to all
have fellowship together during their time here which is what Amber
and I miss the most while here.

I have a follow up meeting today, Monday Jan. 8, in the afternoon with
some denominational leaders about specific ways to train ministers,
especially those willing to go among the 88% un-evangelized in this
country. Also, we plan on Saturday night, to begin a weekly meeting
and dinner at our home for our friends here. This is really a
continuation from before, however we are planning to implement an
expositional bible study. (First Peter of course)

Our neighbor directly across the street is a believer and came by to
welcome us back earlier in the week. He suggested we begin a bible
study for the believers in the village here. So, please pray with us
concerning this. His wife will give birth within the month and we want
to take advantage of this opportunity from the Lord as soon as
possible after her delivery.

We attended church on Sunday at a place where we had really high
expectations based on a connection that this church has with one
denomination in the USA. We were disappointed to put it mildly. Over
an hour of concert style music, followed by half an hour of stand-up
comedy/TV preaching with a dozen rounds of applause and a score of
outbursts of laughter. This is a concern for us as you may imagine.
Please pray that God would grant clear guidance as far as where we
should gather corporately each week. We want to plant ourselves
somewhere, we long for that. But it is extremely difficult to just
'settle' when we imagine that there is somewhere that would be most
pleasing to God for us to attend regularly.

Thank you all for praying for us in all these things.
We have the utmost confidence that we serve a God who cares and hears.
So, beat down a path to the mercy seat, and petition Him on our behalf.

information...

Many of you have asked for information about contacting us in various
ways. I will attempt to answer all these inquiries via this medium.

By phone: 011-2519-11-672-775
Or 011-251-11-653-4978

By E-mail: armathenia@gmail.com

By Post in USA: PO Box 795, New Albany MS 38652

By Post in Ethiopia: Anthony Mathenia, PO Box 70848, Addis Ababa Ethiopia