I first fell in love with the Ethiopian people in my late twenties. As a Regional Director for World Relief, I led a team that resettled hundreds of refugees escaping from the communist regime in their homeland. Over time, I grew to crave their food, celebrate their festivals and—most of all—revel in the incredible warmth of their culture.
So when I learned that our Fellowship was sending 11 students and two staff to Addis Ababa for a six week Global Project during the summer of 2009, I jumped on the opportunity. Every other year, Scott Bessenecker, our Associate Director of Missions, and I co-lead a group of trustees and supporters to visit a project. We agreed—Addis Ababa was our destination.
The program design also appealed to me – American students living with an equal number of Ethiopian students from our sister movement, the Evangelical Student Union of Ethiopia (EvaSUE). Paired roommates then served the poor through local ministries to street boys and to women coming out of prostitution. (Pictured above, our group with EvaSUE staff.)
Two things jumped out at me immediately upon our arrival. First, it was apparent just how close the two student groups had grown together. Personal demonstrations of affection were commonplace. Second, all the students had formed special bonds with those they served. I was amazed by the level of trust extended by the street boys, for example. Rather than being hardened and cynical, they were for the most part very responsive. Even the 16 to 18 year olds welcomed us. It was truly a privilege to be invited into their world.
Two staff directors – Miriam and Janet
Enjoying each other
From a ministry perspective, I was struck by the fact that EvaSUE has fewer than 30 staff serving 30,000 students. How do they do it? Through effectively utilizing alumni as campus volunteers and through empowering their student leaders. We have much to learn from them.
Minty is a prime example of an effective student leader. Twenty-one years old, he leads a chapter of 3,000 at his university. We spent a fair amount of time together, and I was deeply impressed by his maturity. One difference between Ethiopia and the USA — EvaSue is the only active evangelical campus ministry in the country. This is quite a contrast to a school like UCLA, where 50-plus ministries vie for the attention of students.
Minty in a relaxed mode
I was also deeply impressed by the EvaSUE staff. One of them, Aregow invited me to lunch in his small, one-room flat. As he cooked lunch outside on a make-shift stove, I heard his story of conversion and the subsequent rejection by his family.
Because of his Christian faith, he has been persona non grata in his family for the past six years. So I was pleased to learn that he was heading home for the first time this fall. As the eldest son and first college graduate, he had deeply disappointed his father by his conversion and subsequent career choice.
It is my prayer that there will be both peace in the family and a continuation of his call to campus ministry. I was honored to be in his home.
Aregow with two girls from his neighborhood
One final story. While visiting a church, I learned that Ethiopians use the Hebrew word for God–Adonai. One day I was invited to have lunch with a group of men breaking their fast. One of them appeared to be concerned about having a pagan Westerner in their midst.
As he pointed to the wooden cross under his shirt, I pointed upwards and said, “Adonai.” He quickly grabbed my hands and broke into a huge smile. Despite our many differences—culture, race, education, affluence—we experienced deep koinonia together. Breaking bread with believers will never be the same. It was one of the more remarkable moments of my life.
My new friend
Since returning home, I have found myself drifting ever so often back to the smells, sounds, and sights of Ethiopia. It is a poor country that is rich with God’s presence.
