Ethiopian church leaders inspired by conference

Steve Limiero, a member of CMF’s church-planting team in Ethiopia, recently shared a glowing report from a fruitful church leaders conference held at the CMF training center in Kiramu last month.

The conference was planned for all the Gumuz and Oromo (people groups) church leaders, but the 42 Gumuz leaders were sidetracked by transportation difficulties and unable to get to Kiramu on schedule. However, more than 60 Oromo leaders came, and God quickly began to work in their hearts and minds, said Steve.

The conference began on Monday evening with vision-casting by conference speaker Yosef Menna, a well-respected Ethiopian church leader. He and two other teachers, Gizahegn and Tadewos, continued to challenge the leaders over the next several days to set goals for evangelism, discipleship and stewardship. They also challenged the church leaders to launch 50 new churches in the next year and prepare to send out hundreds of missionaries in Ethiopia and beyond.

At one point, Steve reports, the leaders “began weeping in repentance that they had been a church for so many decades and had produced so little fruit. They fell on their knees before the Lord to seek his forgiveness and guidance toward a new future.”

Many local believers joined the leaders for sessions every night while Yosef and his team continued to challenge them to fulfill God’s vision to reach the world.

On Friday and Saturday the teachers challenged the church leaders to put their faith and commitment into practice. Most headed out into the surrounding countryside in teams to share the Gospel wherever and with whomever they could. One team of men stayed behind to uphold the travelers in prayer. “I wish you could have seen the men going out with such joy to do the work,” said Steve. “More than that, I wish you could have seen them returning. The prayer team was waiting to receive each group of leaders literally with celebration, cheering and applause as they returned.”

The reporting time was also one of great praise. Steve and wife Doretha believe that they have never seen such genuine and spontaneous worship among Ethiopians. In just over three hours on Friday morning these 60 leaders brought more than 100 people to the Lord. One older evangelist literally walked into a government meeting with 60 attendees and shared the Gospel, and six people in the meeting became believers. Many others told him to return later. The stories, said Steve, “are too many to write.”

On Saturday morning the leaders went into the town of Kiramu to share the Gospel with those buying and selling in the Saturday market. By 1 p.m. there were 69 more new believers in Kiramu, including three from a Muslim background.

The closing night on Saturday was a service of praise, prayer and closure. The leaders met until late in the night to make their plans to bring these teachings back to their own congregations. “While we know that we will not see the complete fruit of this time for some months to come,” said Steve, “all indications are that God was up to something amazing! Please saturate these leaders in prayer over the next six months while they seek to bring God’s vision to fruition here on earth.”

CMF Medical Consultant Dr. Suzie Snyder recently returned from the board meeting of the CMF Maasai medical clinic system in Kenya with a very encouraging report.

Last year 37,000 patients were given care at the clinics, and 900 AIDS patients are seen every month. About 350 patients receive ARV (antiretroviral) drug treatment for HIV/AIDS from the clinics. But the care offered in the clinics does not stop with testing and medical treatment. In 2008, the Aitong Clinic Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) program received a “First in Nation” award as the best VCT program in Kenya. The program offers counseling to patients both before and after they are tested for HIV/AIDS. Dr. Snyder points out that “most of the VCT counselors are pastors from the Maasai churches who have gone through the nationally recognized training to be credentialed as VCT counselors, so it’s our church leaders, pastors, and elders who are doing the VCT counseling. A great integration of church and clinic ministries!”

Dr. Snyder and her husband Dave Snyder were the former directors of the clinic system, but since their departure from Kenya the clinics have continued as a strong ministry under well-trained national leadership. The clinical staff and administrative support staff are running the clinic system on a daily basis, and two of the Maasai nurses have completed their RN upgrade program and received their degrees last year. The newly formed board is growing and assuming increased responsibility. “Missionaries are stepping back, and the Maasai Christians are stepping forward as the Maasai clinical team continues to provide excellent health care that is recognized throughout the district,” said Dr. Snyder.

Steve Carpenter, a member of CMF’s team in Mexico City, reports that the swine flu epidemic is having an effect on their ministry. In compliance with a request from the government of Mexico, church services have been cancelled at the Eagles Church (las Aguilas), Northside Christian Church (Iglesia Cristiana del Norte ), and at El Camino on the city’s south side, as well as at many other congregations around the city and in the outlying areas. The government hopes to break the spread of the influenza by discouraging people from gathering in public places, especially in large groups in closed areas. In addition to churches, many schools, theaters, museums, government buildings, gyms and other facilities are also closed. At this time the order is effective through May 5. Steve and the team are hopeful that things will return to normal by that time so that the churches, schools and other facilities can reopen.