Dear Brethren

Greetings!

I just got back from a six weeks trip to Ethiopia. It was a very productive and successful trip. I was able to travel to the countryside to see the newly planted congregations, conduct leadership workshop, talk to the deaf and KG teachers,  visit some of the newly installed water wells and able to clear out the rig and other shipments sent by Healing Hands International. Everything went well and good.
Update report of my trip to Ethiopia.
Left to Ethiopia:   Jan. 11, 10
Return:   Feb. 16, 10 (six weeks trip)

I.           Baptismal Report: Feb. 17, 2010
In Awasa area 85 people has been baptized in one month. Bro. Yonas, Awassa’s congregation preacher reported 3 new churches have been planted around the town of Awasa.
II.         Water wells area evangelical gospel outreach report:
Bro. Molla reported: 115 people baptized and three new congregations have been planted in less than a month. 8 men from these areas are sent this week to Jajura Preachers Training School to be trained. Upon the completion of their training these men are expected to go back to their home areas and minister in the newly planted congregations.
III.       Number of Congregations planted in the water wells areas: From April 2, 09 – Feb. 3, 10
(In Ten Months): A total of 38 congregations, have been planted by the water well evangelistic team. This program started last April 2009 with a total support of North County Church family, of California. We are thankful for their commitment and generous support towards this especial gospel outreach program. We look forward to reach more people with the gospel of Christ in the future.  More pleasant and good news will come soon. Thank you NCCC!!
IV.       The National Preachers Workshop:
The National Preachers Workshop will be held in Awassa from November 3 – 7, 2010.
We were overwhelmed to see the excitements of the Church leaders’ decisions, to conduct the conference despite the current financial crisis in the country of Ethiopia.  Surely we are blessed to witness the maturity of the Church members and its leaders.
It is expected that a minimum of 1000 preachers will attend the workshop coming from all over the country of Ethiopia. The church leaders in the various areas have started working on the logistics of the workshop. All food, transportation's and accommodations expenses shall be covered by the members of the churches of Christ in Ethiopia. We ought to praise God for allowing us to see the Church mature and continue to spread out all over Ethiopia and beyond!

Fourteen Brothers and Sisters in Christ from USA have informed us that they plan to come for the conference in November. We believe we can manage to accommodate up to 20 visitors for the workshop. If you plan to come please let us know as soon as possible.
V.         Jimma: 
The South West of Ethiopia is a more Muslim populated area than any of the areas where we have been working in the past four decayed. Simply for the reason of the Church’s true teachings, the Christians  has been experiencing continued expansion of counterattacks by some members of the denominations and Muslims who lives in the area. On the other side the kindergarten school that we have in the vicinity have produced good image for the Church.

The free education that we are providing to destitute children, the care and concern shown by the Church to the community have demonstrated our genuine love to all people. Those who become aware of the Church’s good work in the community continually come forward to guard and look after the reality of the Church in the area.
The Church family in Jimma numbers 24. In the outskirt of the city of Jimma, in a town called Agaro, four people have obeyed the gospel and are now meeting in one of the member’s home.
In a small town called Shebea, Sister Ayeshe Abanega a former member of the Jimma congregation has become a shining example to the small church in town. She was converted from a Muslim religion to Christianity while she was living in the city of Jimma.  Sister Ayeshe, moved to this town because of her work, soon she became a shining example to the small Church in town. She requests the churches prayers for strength and commitment to the Lord so that she portrays Christ in her life to draw her Muslim relatives and friends to Christ.
Bro. Gutu’s prayer requests:
1.  Pray for the Church family in Jimma, to remain faithful and loyal while they dwell in the huge Muslim’s community. Several Muslims have become Christians because of their children going to the KG that we provided to the community.

2.  More prayers needed to stop the various religious counterattacks against the Church.

3.  Our prayer request for Ormugna, and Amharic bibles has been answered. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the Elk Grove Church family in California for giving their assurance that they will cover the required funds to meet the need.  Bro. Alemayehu and Moges will soon let us know how much fund they need to purchase the bibles.

We just want to tell you that your prayers has been answered. Let us continue working together to save more souls while we have the opportunity to work in the Kingdom.

For His Glory  
Behailu Abebe
"The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1b