The Cross and The Gospel from Zambia to Ethiopia

At the end of January, I returned to Ethiopia to meet my Zambian brothers, Victor and Grave, who came to preach and teach in the local Ethiopian churches.  We shared the teaching roles, beginning our time in Addis Ababa for a couple of days before driving 6 hours southwest to Jimma.  This rural town has become what will be a hub for us to work out of.  The welcome that we received there upon our return was wonderful, and the attendance at the sessions was more than four times what we experienced last time.

We used a different translator this time in an attempt to increase the precision of the doctrinal issues that we were hoping to explain.  This effort proved to be invaluable.  Solomon was highly recommended by a great missionary friend and did a remarkable job.  His grasp of the English language mixed with his understanding of biblical doctrine and his knowledge of the religious/church climate within Ethiopian culture seemed unmatched in my estimation.  We long to work with and fellowship with him again.

Dr. Grave, who is also a pediatrician, handled the topic of the gospel in light of the cross of Christ.  He discussed in detail the necessity of the cross in the salvation of sinners and why it was necessary for Christ to die.  Grave dealt with the centrality of the cross in the Christian message of hope to an otherwise hopeless world.  He worked through scores of benefits that we, as sinners, receive as a result of the crucifixion of Christ.  Grave’s approach to preaching the gospel is a precise, careful approach that is incredibly simple to understand and follow.  This was his second opportunity to work in Ethiopia and I look forward to his next trip.  He will be in Uruguay, South America during our next scheduled trip and therefore will not be able to participate.  Please pray for him as he ministers in his local church, to the sick and needy children of his village/town, and as he travels to preach the gospel around the globe.

Victor, who has been dubbed the director of the Mission to Ethiopia, also pastors a local church just outside the capital city of Zambia.  Victor’s role in the conference was to handle the gospel message from the gospel of John, using the teachings of John and Jesus to exhort the church and her leaders to apply and live upon the gospel continuously.  Victor began with the premise of John 20:31, “these (things) have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name”, and from there expounded several passages from John’s gospel.  His focus was on the seven signs and miracles of Jesus along with the seven “I AM” sayings of Jesus.  The conversions of Nicodemus and the woman at the well were carefully used as examples of Jesus saving both the religious and the irreligious sinner.  Then, Victor clearly showed the amazing benefits of Christ being our Good Shepherd from John 10 and the responsibility that ministers have of being healthy shepherds of God’s people.  Pray for Victor as he ministers in Lusaka and as he continues to work among Ethiopia’s churches.

I was as pleased as I could have been with the trip this time.  The teaching seemed well received and we trust that it will be applied by all who attended.  I am looking forward to the continued opportunity with these churches and to ones that have arisen as well.  We appreciate your prayers and continued support for the work abroad, as well as, for our day to day lives, whether in Ethiopia, Zambia, or North Mississippi.  The religious/church climate is more similar in all these lands than it may seem from the outside.  God and His gospel alone have the power to bring about the change we need.