We wish all our friends and partners a Happy and Blessed Ethiopian New Year! Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar and we turn into the year 2015 E.C. on September 11, 2022.
We would like to take this opportunity to share with you our friends and partners what the Lord has done for us in the past few months.
2022 ETC Graduation
On Saturday, June 18, 2022, Ninety three students graduated from the Evangelical Theological College in Addis Ababa. This includes 49 students from the Bachelor of Theology program, 44 students from Master of Arts program out of which: 17 were from the Holistic Child Development program, 15 from the Educational Leadership, 7 from the Youth Ministry, and 5 first time graduates from the Christian Muslim Relations program.
The Lord has crowned the efforts of ETC and our esteemed partners by enabling our students to accomplish the education that they have started well. The graduation ceremony was the celebration of ministry, achievement, and mission. The celebration was highlighted by the commencement speech from Dr. Randy Smith who was present among us on this blessed occasion. Dr. Randy Smith is the President of Youth Ministry International and he was one of the major initiators and supporters of the Youth Ministry program here at ETC. He encouraged the graduates to take this milestone as an entry point to a new opportunity to serve the Lord and not as a closed chapter of their lives. We give praise and Glory to God for the many achievements He has provided to us all; and join family, friends and partners to congratulate all our students!”
What made this year’s graduation historical for us was to witness and celebrate the successful completion of the first graduates from the MA program in Christian – Muslim Relations. This program is the first of its kind in the horn of Africa, especially in Ethiopia; where the population of Islam is 34%. The graduates of this program will play a key role in fulfilling the Great Commission.
Launching the MA in Biblical Studies
The other achievement the Lord has helped us to attain was the launch of a new Master of Arts program in Biblical Studies. The long awaited program was launched because the Lord has provided ETC with remarkable Faculty Members who have the right qualification and skill set. Thirty two new students have enrolled for this new program and classes have began in July 2022. We pray and hope the Lord will use this program to equip these servants for His Kingdom work.
Searching the Scriptures Seminars
ETC, in partnership with Insight for Living Ministries, that was founded by the well known Bible Teacher and Preacher, Pastor Chuck Swindoll, organized a training of trainer’s seminar. Twenty five selected Pastors, Bible teachers and preachers from Ethiopia attended the program. Dr. Terry Boyle, who is the representative of Insight for Living in the UK, was the lead speaker in the seminar. The engagement of the participants was very high and It was a blessed time of fellowship and learning.
ETC Building Progress
The construction work of the extension facility of the Evangelical Theological College has continued to progress steadily. Although ETC was not able to find the funding it has anticipated to finish the building and make it ready for the increasing number of students; Yet, through the faithfulness of the Lord, the support we got from our friends and the loan from the Ethiopian Bank the work has been progressing steadily.
The COVID pandemic and the war in the country in 2021 and now the war in Ukraine have significantly affected the progress of the building as anticipated because of the escalation of construction material prices and the slowdown of funding.
Currently, the slab work for the front part of the building is completed and the basement where the parking lot is also completed. We are in a process to start the finishing work of the front part. We are praying for the building to come to the state where it can generate income so that we will have enough money to provide quality education and finish the construction work of the entire building.
Admissions of New Students
The Lord has also blessed us with new students for the new academic year. We have accepted 190 students for the Addis Ababa campus for both BTh and MA programs.
Current Student’s Testimony
Who Can Answer My Questions?
Mekia Aman was born and brought up in a Muslim family. She grew up at her grandparents’ place. Her grandfather led the worship in a nearby Mosque. She joined the Qur’anic school when she was a child and tried to obey every instruction in the Qur’an. However, after going through all the rituals, she was not sure if she will go to Janna (paradise) or not.
At the age of 14, she started asking questions, why am I not sure that I will go to paradise when I am obeying most of the instructions of the Quran? She couldn’t find answers so she could not have peace or attain contentment.
Why did Jesus suffer quietly?
One of the things she was required to do as a Muslim was, share Islam with her Christian friends. In order to do that, she knew that she had to read their Bible. She borrowed a Bible from her neighbor who was a believer.
As she was reading the New Testament, these questions started to run through her mind “If Jesus is God, why did He take all that suffering quietly? She kept on asking more questions about Jesus. She then delved into reading the Bible especially the New Testament. She was touched by the stories of Jesus and the miracles He did in the New Testament. Mekia wanted to know this God more.
She finally asked her neighbor who is a Christian to take her to church. She went to church and accepted Jesus as her personal Savior that very day. She was filled with great joy; now, she has the assurance that she is a child of God and that she will go to heaven. As she read the Word of God more she began to find answers to her questions.
Joining ETC
Mekia passed through a lot of suffering when her family found out that she has become a Christian. However, she knew that all this suffering was for a purpose and she drew strength from it. After a while, she left home and worked in different places.
Finally, she found a job as a cashier at ETC cafeteria. She longed to join the college and study the Word of God. She was so excited the day she found out that she was eligible. She passed the entrance exam and joined ETC.
Currently, Mekia is doing her BTh. She is living the life she has always aspired, to know the Lord she loves more and to serve Him. Mekia is a beacon of light to the students around her and to the many people who come to the café. God’s faithfulness is evident in her joyous personality and cheerful attitude.
Dear Partners, we want to share the stories of our students with you, so you will be encouraged to see the fruit of your ministry and how the Lord is using ETC to equip more laborers for the harvest. We ask you to continue to pray and support the Lord’s work at ETC.
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