God is moving in Ethiopian hearts - Thursday update

Today (Thursday) was my favorite day of ministry partly because we had a chance to celebrate all that God has done this week but we’ll get to that.  The day started out with our small team going to a market area where there was lots of foot traffic.  We jumped out of the van & started kicking a soccer ball which brought people out to play with us.  I got a football & started throwing the ball with some young men who were just casually observing us.  The football was new for them as they had never thrown a football before so they were fascinated by that.  After using the ball as a way to bridge the culture gap, I asked if I could talk with them.  I shared my testimony of life change & then asked if I could share how much God loved the people of Ethiopia.  They curiously listened as I shared the gospel & several men said they were Ethiopian Orthodox & several others said they were believers but they didn’t go to church & were not walking with the Lord.  First I talked with the Orthodox & answered their questions & challenged them about earning salvation through doing “good things”.  I asked them if you could do good things to earn salvation then why did Jesus have to die on the cross?  I also shared the story of the 2 thieves who died on either side of Jesus & the one thief who repented & Jesus said “today you will be with me in paradise” before the thief could do any good things to earn salvation.  The next conversation was with the guys who were as the Ethiopians would call “back sliding”.  I encouraged them that Jesus died on the cross for their sins 1 time & that there is nothing you can do to make God love you any more or any less.  The men were very encouraged & the disciplemakers took their contact info & the men said they would get plugged back into the church & the disciplemakers will start meeting & discipling them.  What a praise!

 

This afternoon we had an awesome worship service with our Ethiopian partners.  We sang songs in English & Amharic & it was one of the highlights of the trip.  

 

We have a couple of the North Americans who are starting to feel unwell.  It is mainly stomach issues & we’re giving them electrolytes & having them rest.  Please continue to pray for:

·      Good health for the North Americans

·      Open hearts for the good news of Jesus

·      Unity with our Ethiopian partners 

·      The new believers faith would be strengthened in the face of persecution 

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