The Burden Continues

In December 2011 I met Dr. John Balikowski, an American Dentist and Missionary, in Mekelle, Ethiopia.  Dr. John is an incredible man.  He has dedicated his life to spreading the news of Jesus Christ around the world.  He has been in Ethiopia since 2005 and moved to Mekelle, in Northern Ethiopia, in 2011.  Dr. John's work with his Dental School has opened doors and gained favor with local officials to do something that has never been done before - open an evangelical Bible Training Center in Northern Ethiopia.  

When I was in Mekelle, Dr. John planted the seed with me to help him make the Bible Training Center a reality.  Upon returning to the US, my interest in Ethiopia was focused on getting our son, Sofani, to join our family, but the burden of the bible school never subsided.  I tried to push the burden away - avoiding it, talking myself out of it and hoping someone else would help so I didn't have to.  It seemed like it was working.  I had gone 2 years without hearing from Dr. John.  

Then it happened.  In January 2014 I heard from God while journaling.  

1/19/14 - “Research the bible college in Mekelle.  Develop a strategy to raise $500K.  Change the world.” 

At the time this sounded completely crazy.  $500K? Me?  I don't even like helping my kids with school fundraisers.

1/24/14 – “Listen for my call and obey.  Have ears to hear and eyes to see.  Order the book I showed you earlier this week.”

So I ordered the book I had heard about on Christian Radio earlier in the week.  It was  “The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent."  This book helped me gain more of an understanding on some of the key differences between Islam and Christianity.  

First, I must admit, "hearing from God" seemed a bit strange to me.  It still feels odd to type it.  I didn't feel I was "religious enough" to hear from God. I thought that was reserved for Pastors and people a whole lot more holy than me.  In any event, I realized that God had a plan to use me - an imperfect sinner - to do His work halfway around the world. 

Why was I not surprised?  I've read the Bible.  I know that this is one of the most strong themes throughout the book - God using unlikely people to carry out His mission of spreading the news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.  

Then after a two year absence of any communication, on February 1, 2014 I received an email from Dr. John Balikowski.

“Dear Jason,
It has been a long time since you were here with us in Mekelle.  Hope all is well with you.
We are in the process of finally starting the Bible training center here in Mekelle.  We never heard back anything positive about putting up the building, so we are renting one for now so we can get started.  We are short a few thousand dollars for startup expenses and I would ask the Lord if you or your friends could help us.  Funds can be sent a couple of different ways, one would be through the church in Michigan that was willing to help channel funds for us, and also through World Dental Relief.
Please pray for us as we try to get started.  I already have a curriculum and will work with ISOM (International School of Ministry).
Your partner for the Harvest in Ethiopia,
Dr. John”

I knew at that time I didn't have a choice.  I remember reading this email as I woke up.  All I could do was laugh and shake my head.  I remember telling Staci, "you're not going to believe this."

Dr. John and Dr. Grill joining me earlier this year for a fundraising event in Selma, IN (home of the most generous church I know - Selma United Methodist)

The work began.  I reached out to Dr. John to develop a plan and not even a year later we have made some incredible progress:  

• Funds were quickly raised to open the Bible Training Center in the temporary location in May, 2014.  35 students showed up on the first day for class.
• Over $100,000 has been raised in small circles to get the temporary location up and running ($25,000) while setting aside the remaining $75,000 for a down payment on the permanent location.
• The Nationals have raised $20,000 to add to our total.
• In November 2014, we identified an ideal permanent site - plenty of room for classrooms, offices, future expansion, an ideal location and tenants on the ground floor paying rent to make the Center entirely self-sufficient.
• In December 2014, enrollment in the school grew to 80.  80 future church leaders in a part of Ethiopia where less than 1% of the population are evangelical Christians.  Wow.
• Throughout the process we've had incredible cooperation and harmony amongst the Tigrinya Evangelical Churches Fellowship (this group is made up of all the local evangelical church leaders in Tigray - 13 of which are in Mekelle)

Students at the temporary site for the Bible Training Center

This brings me to today.  

We are close to signing the purchase offer for the permanent location. The price for the permanent site is $215,000; however, it will end up being closer to $250,000 after including brokerage fees, interest on the remaining balance over 2015 and government fees.  We still have to raise $150,000 by the end of 2015 ($30,000 of which has to be raised by the end of February).

The burden continues.  I'll be honest there have been times over the last couple of weeks that I update the website and I can't fathom how we're going to find another $150,000 in 12 months.  If you would have told me in February that we would have already raised over $120,000 and have 80 students in the program I wouldn't have believed that either.  I quickly remind myself that this has nothing to do with me and my abilities.  It only has to do with my obedience.  This is God's plan and I'm just someone carrying out a small part in His plan.  

If God is calling you to make a financial contribution to our efforts, please feel free to jump on board and make a contribution.  You can make a donation online at www.harvestinethiopia.com or by mailing a check to:

New Life Christian Fellowship

2237 E Reid Rd

Grand Blanc, MI

49439

Memo: Ethiopia Bible School

While financial contributions are great, we're in need of new contacts and networks to socialize our efforts. Dr. John and I need to get in front of new churches, religious organizations and influencers to share what we're doing and to get more people involved.  We need some additional people to step up and help share this burden with those of us that have been working on this project and those that have made financial contributions to date.  

I would really appreciate it if you would share a link to my blog or to the Harvest in Ethiopia website to someone(s) that could arrange for speaking engagements, etc.  We need a larger audience.

We are confident that if we can expand our network, increase our efforts and build on our 2014 fundraising n 2015 we will be able to finish off this project and fulfill our mission to build the first Evangelical Bible Training Center in Northern Ethiopia.  

The Permanent Location for the Bible Training Center in Mekelle

Two Years

Two years ago Staci, Avery, Jackson and I were in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to take Sofani home to our family.  So much has happened over the last couple of years and it’s a great time to reflect.

At the hotel in Addis in the Summer of '12

First, I still marvel at Sofani for taking such a leap of faith.  Here’s a boy that left his friends and relatives in Mekelle to check himself into an orphanage in Addis so that he would be legally eligible for adoption.  He knew me for 3 days.  He didn’t know Staci or anyone else in our family.  We didn’t even speak the same language.  He put all of the trust in the world in me - that I would circle halfway around the world to come and get him out of the orphanage while paperwork was processed and the hope that the court to rule in our favor.  He had to spend 5 months in a tiny orphanage filled with infants and toddlers.  Two years later – it’s still mind blowing.  Sofi’s courage is something that is hard to imagine.  It is all the evidence you need that children are desperate to be loved, have parents and be part of a family. 

Things weren't always easy.  As a matter of fact, the adjustment resulting from Sofani’s adoption was the hardest thing our family has ever endured.  There’s absolutely no question about it.  Roles were shifted.  Everything was shared.  Patience was tested.  Tears were shed.  Fairness became an issue.  Insecurities and past life experiences had to be addressed.  Language and communication were more an issue than we anticipated.  The peace of our home was thrown out the window.  At times I wondered what had happened.  Why did God give us such clear signs that Sofani was meant to be in our family only to make things so difficult on all of us?  Why was my nice and tidy family suddenly at the altar?

It’s not something that I blogged about – the experiences were way too personal.  We put on our best front in public – holding onto the fact that one day we would reach the end of all the hard times and establish a “new normal” for our family.  But there were days where each of us were gutted, discouraged and questioning how we arrived at this point in our lives and questioning God’s plan for our family.  There were days that Sofani said he wanted to go back to Ethiopia.  There were days I would have bought the ticket.  The people closest to us know what this was like for our family and we will be forever grateful to you for your love and support.  We made it!

That’s why it’s so awesome to be at the two year mark.  The difficulties in year one seem so far behind us now.  For all of the struggles, God has blessed us tenfold with laughter, joy and peace.  I’m not just saying that.  I really mean it.  It feels completely natural to give him a hug, hear him call me “dad,” encourage him, challenge him, support him and love him.  There is not a doubt in my mind that the feeling is mutual.

The awesome thing about the last two years has been the lives that have been touched by Sofani.  Hearts have been softened.  Eyes have been opened.  Our family extends well beyond the four walls of our house.

I can’t say enough about the support we've had from our church.  The spiritual warfare we encountered was real and the folks in our church were right there with us – offering us support and sound, biblical advice on how to handle our challenges. 

Our community and school system has been incredible.  They've taken a very unfamiliar challenge and embraced it.  Sofani’s teachers, counselors, coaches, helpers have all been so patient and loving towards him.  We may have our quirks in Selma, but I can tell you it’s a great place to raise a family.

Our parents, grandparents and extended family have been so incredible with the love they've given Sofi.  I can’t do it justice trying to describe it.

My grandparents, J and Joan, drive over from Marion to go to his baseball games.  My grandma has had him spend the night alone just so she could read him the same books that she read to her other grandchildren at a much younger age.   Staci’s dad, Tom, lets him help in his workshop and imparts wisdom on how to build and fix things that he’s not going to get from me.  Staci’s mom, Anita, takes him looking for coins and other hidden treasures at the school across the street from their house.  My mom, Cathy, loves to take him shopping and keeps him looking stylish.  My dad, Jay, attends all of his events and imparts a very familiar brand of wisdom and encouragement in everything Sofi tackles.

Anna hasn't batted an eye through all of our experiences over the first two years.  Sofani is her big brother and her cartoon watching buddy.  She’ll never remember life before his arrival.

Anna, Sofani and Sponge Bob (most days)

Avery and Sofi have developed a great friendship and enjoy a very typical brother and sister relationship.  She helps him with homework and has blazed a trail of acceptance and justice among her friends and in our community.

Avery and Sofani - Soccer - Fall '13

Staci has loved him from the minute I mentioned his name.  She loves Sofani with the same capacity that she does the three that she birthed.  She challenges him, disciplines him and has forged a relationship that is so incredible and unique – it’s amazing.  She has sacrificed so much of herself to push through the tough times and persevere. She has grown in her faith and has opened so many eyes to the wonderful privilege associated with adoption.  She and Sofi now joke around about the first few months after he arrived - all of the times he tested her and challenged her.  She has chipped away day by day to shape and mold him with her constant love and instruction.

Besides Staci and Sofani, there’s no one I have more admiration and respect for than my son Jackson.  While he was very excited to finally have a brother, we all underestimated how many sacrifices would come along with it.  Jackson has shared his room, clothes, friends and time.  Sofani’s adventurous spirit has stretched Jackson in the same way that Jackson’s loving heart has extended to Sofani.  It’s been a joy to watch these two bond and grow both as individuals and as brothers.

My Boys - Fall '13

This has been a life changing experience for me.  I am a better father, better husband and better Christian man because of Sofani.  I changed careers and shifted my priorities so that I can invest more time and attention to my family.  I don’t take all of the things that I've been entrusted to for granted.  I am soaking up all of the joys of life more now than I ever have in the past.  He has enriched my life and our family beyond measure.  I’m grateful that God crossed our paths and that we both said “yes” to His plan to connect us.  We needed each other and God knew it.

Two years.  It’s a landmark day for us.  We thank all of you for your love and prayers!

The Crew - Summer '13

Eye Opening Experience

In early April, our family participated in the Ball State University PAYLP (Pan African Youth Leadership Program) as a host family.  There were 24 high school students participating in the program from 8 sub-Saharan African countries.  The students we hosted, Ruth and Joseph, were from Nigeria and Zimbabwe respectively.  They were both chosen because they are future leaders in their countries.  They spent time in Washington D.C. and Chicago along with the two weeks in Muncie.

During the two weeks that they lived with us, Ruth and Joseph were able to experience living in America firsthand.  They quickly became part of our drop-off/pick-up schedule.  They had seats at the dinner table, watched movies and went bowling with us like they were a part of our family.  From the minute that we met them until the time we dropped them off they called Staci and me “Mom” and “Dad.” They’re both great kids.

Joseph described his time in America as “powerful” (this word has become our family’s favorite new adjective by the way).  I asked him one morning as I was taking him to Ball State what he thought Americans took for granted.  His answer was simple – running water and electricity.  Joseph explained that his school day didn’t start until Noon because he spent each morning walking to get water for his family.  He loads empty containers each morning and walks 15 minutes to a Mormon Church to get them filled and another 15 minutes to return home. 

Ruth lives in a part of Africa where there is a great deal of violence with Boko Haram, an Islamist extremist group.  Boko Haram means “Western education is sinful.”  On Monday of her second week with us, there were 60 people killed in Nigeria after homes were set on fire and people were shot trying to escape.  Wow.  I couldn’t believe this and I started reading more about Boko Haram.  I was saddened at what I found.

Since January ‘14, there have been 250,000 people in northern Nigeria have been displaced from their homes because of the violence.  Over 1000 have died so far this year.  Since 2009, over 6000 people have been killed in the violence in Nigeria in Boko Haram’s quest to form a separate, strict Islamic state.  

On April 14^th (the day before Ruth left us), over 230 girls from a secondary school in the Nigerian town of Chibok were abducted while they were at a secondary school by members of Boko Haram.  These girls are Ruth’s age.  They’re still missing.  According to community leaders in Nigeria, these girls will be displaced by being sold and forced to marry the Islamic extremists that kidnapped them.  One source that I read this morning said that they were being sold off for $12 apiece.

Over 230 Girls Kidnapped from their School are Still Missing in Nigeria

On April 19^th, Ruth and Joseph headed back to Nigeria and Zimbabwe.  As you can imagine, they have been on our hearts ever since.

It’s very easy to get caught up in routine news in the US – celebrity drama, political scandal, weather, traffic, etc.  What we view as important has everything to do with what is made important to us by the media.  I challenge each of you reading this to begin following the story about the missing girls in Nigeria.  Pray for them.  Pray for their poor families that must be completely terrified.  (#BringBackOurGirls)

Joseph’s story of walking to a Mormon church to get water reminded me that the Latter Day Saints have a very effective mission program.  Joseph’s family is Mormon.  They rely on their church to meet the most basic needs.  Ruth’s story reminded me that radical Islam is not isolated to parts of the Middle East.  It’s spreading.

Two weeks with Ruth and Joseph added motivation, passion and validation in my effort to spread the news of Jesus Christ to the people of Mekelle, Ethiopia by building our first Bible Training Center in northern Ethiopia.  Is one Bible Training Center going to change the world?  I pray that it will alter the course of at least one African city.  This week, we eclipsed the $50,000 mark with a couple months of fundraising on the way to our goal of $200,000.  To learn more about how you can get involved and help spread God’s Word visit www.harvestinethiopia.com.

Family Reunion in Texas

Our family spent Spring Break 2014 in Lubbock and Brownwood, Texas.  That’s right - very popular spring break destinations.  It was a major deviation from our normal beach filled, relaxing Spring Breaks of year's past.  Thankfully we were able to fight off the college students and find rooms.  All kidding aside it was an incredible experience – one we will never forget.

Gideon, Sofani, Jackson, Atsede, Anna, Avery and Deborah

We flew into DFW, rented a mini-van and traversed west Texas on a journey through wind farms, Dairy Queens and oil fields to Lubbock.   Lubbock is the temporary home to Sofani’s cousin Atsede and her family.  Atsede’s husband, Girmay, is getting his PhD at Texas Tech.  Their children, Deborah and Gideon, were excited to see Sofani for the first time in 2 years and meet the rest of the Buck family face-to-face.

The word hospitality is often used but rarely experienced on the level that we did during our time in Lubbock.  We were welcomed with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony and spent the next three days in fellowship and stuffing our bellies with more Ethiopian food than any of us were ready to handle (Sofani included).  When Atsede wasn’t cooking, she was teaching Staci how to make injera, braiding Avery and Anna’s hair and washing Staci’s feet.  Yeah, that’s right.  How biblical is that?  I can’t say that I was surprised at all.  This is the same woman that gave up every bed in her house to accommodate three strange American men in Mekelle, Ethiopia over two years ago.  I attribute so many changes in my life – from meeting and adopting Sofani to changes in me as a husband, father and as a Christian – to Atsede’s incredible hospitality and her willingness to serve others as Jesus instructed.

Atsede's Coffee Ceremony

After our stay in Lubbock, we hit the road with Girmay, Atsede and their children on the next leg of our journey to Brownwood, Texas.  Brownwood is a small town in central Texas that is the home to the Hull family.

The Hull family played an important part in our adoption of Sofani.  When we were navigating the adoption process and planning our trip to court in Addis Ababa, the judge that was working Sofani’s case brought it to a halt when she learned that Sofani had a younger sister that was adopted by a family in the US just one year earlier.  At the time we knew that Sofani’s sister was in the US but didn’t have much hope that we would ever find her with all of the confidentiality that exists in the adoption process.  The judge insisted that Liya’s parents were given the opportunity to adopt Sofani in an effort to keep the two of them together.  As much as we understood this it was still heartbreaking.  Sofani essentially checked himself into an orphanage for 5 months in order to meet the country’s adoption requirements.  Our flight was booked.  Our house was prepared.  Our hearts were ready for Sofani to become part of our family and one judge had the ability to change all of that.  We prayed that this family would allow us to adopt Sofani.  They did and, as much as it was a nerve-racking few days, it enabled us to find Liya and the Hull family.  We knew that when the time was right we would reunite Sofani and Liya on American soil.

The reunion was a culmination of so many things that God orchestrated to have all of us standing in the same room.  Liya, Sofani, Atsede, Girmay, Deborah, Gideon, the Hull’s and the Buck’s were all together.  Only God could have orchestrated such a meeting.  As Sofani and Liya hugged and the tears filled their eyes my heart was full of joy.  There was a sense of accomplishment that all of us collectively allowed God to work through us to allow a brother and sister to be reunited.  I thought of the angels rejoicing as I considered the celebration taking place in heaven between their birth parents. 

Sofani and Liya and their biological parents

The time in Brownwood was brief but filled with fellowship.  It was filled with answers.  It was a new starting point for Sofani and Liya along with the rest of us.  

Girmay put together so many pieces for all of us.  He and Atsede connected so many dots for us related to the history of these two kids and their family members back in Ethiopia. 

As Americans, we get caught up in genealogy and allow that to define family.  Through this process I have learned to define family in a different way.  While all of the members of my biological family will always be important and unique, I have learned that “family” shouldn’t be limited to a family tree.  We are all God’s children that are a part of a much larger plan when we allow Him to work through us and weave it together.

Liya, Avery, Anna, Jackson, Sofani and Finn

For those of you following the progress of the Bible Training Center that we’re working on in Mekelle, Ethiopia, please check out www.harvestinethiopia.com for more information.  We’re making huge progress with the formation of a temporary training facility and fundraising for a permanent location. The website was launched last week and will keep you up-to-date on all the happenings with this initiative.

Spring Break in Texas

December 8, 2011 was a full day. 

The day began with breakfast at the luxurious Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Then there was a 2 car accident involving the taxi I was riding in on the way to the airport.  We arrived in Mekelle, Ethiopia only to learn that our hotel reservation was cancelled with the government coming to town.  Next, the three of us traveling together along with our driver/guide were in a massive car accident in a busy intersection.  The SUV was totaled and, after some time waiting, we found a ride to take us to a Guest House.  Upon arriving at the Guest House we learn that our reservations were made for the following day.  We had no place to go.

The locals surround our SUV after a memorable crash (note: no stop signs or lights)

The lovely woman that ran the guest house motioned for the three of us to throw our suitcases in the trunk of her car.  We had no other options and she seemed very trustworthy.  So we did.  We hopped into her car and headed down a bumpy road to a gated home.

As we pulled up to the gate, a small service door swung open and a little boy popped out with a big smile on his face.  He helped us with our luggage and ushered us into the home.

We were greeted with incredible hospitality.  Sheets were changed and the woman that had taken us in insisted that we sleep in their beds.  She and her two children were going to sleep downstairs for the time we were in town.  As we later discovered, her husband was out of town on business. It’s hard to imagine any woman in an America home alone with her kids would willingly take in three strangers. 

A pretty young girl walked in from a day at school and spoke perfect English.  She became our interpreter and communication improved instantly.  She told us that she learned English in grade school in Texas. Her father, an architect, left Ethiopia briefly to study abroad at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.  She told us how everyone that we met at her house fit together.

Her mother, the wonderful woman that ran the guest house, was named Atsede.

Her father, the architect that was out of town on business, was named Girmay.

The little boy running around the house was her little brother.  His name was Gideon.

Her name was Deborah.

The boy that met us with the big smile was a cousin.  Deborah told us that he lost his parents when he was younger and lived on the other side of town.  He was at their home that day because he missed the gate closing on his orphanage school.  He had a younger sister, Liya, that was adopted to a family in the US the year before.  His name was Sofani.

Gideon and Sofani checking out pictures on my laptop

That brings us to today.

Girmay, Atsede, Deborah and Gideon are currently living in Lubbock, Texas temporarily while Girmay finishes his PhD at Texas Tech.   They will return to Mekelle this summer.

Liya, Sofani’s biological sister, lives with her new family in Brownwood, Texas.  She's been with them over 2 years.  We were connected to her parents during the adoption process with Sofani.  This was an amazing turn of events.  We had no idea how we were ever going to help Sofani reconnect with Liya.  Sofani’s adoption enabled us to find Liya’s family and form a very special, lifelong connection with them.

Why am I writing this?  Good question.

Tonight, Staci and I are jumping on a plane to Dallas/Ft Worth with our four kids on Spring Break.  We will be driving tomorrow morning to Lubbock to spend a couple of days with Girmay, Atsede and their family.

On Sunday, we jump in the car and head to Brownwood for what should be an amazing reunion between Liya and Sofani.  When Liya left Ethiopia and was adopted to a family in the US, the chance of them ever seeing each other – much less having an opportunity to forge a relationship – was an incredible longshot.

This should be an awesome week for reunions in Texas.  What a thrill to be a part of it.  I'm sure there will be some pictures in the next post!

BIBLE COLLEGE UPDATE:

The site for the temporary Bible Training Center (2nd and 3rd Floor)

Funds continue to flow!  We are awaiting a check that will put us near the $7500 mark to solidify the furnishing of the temporary school.

The website is nearing completion and should be ready to roll within the next week.  I’m very excited to get this out as it will be a much better place to explain the initiative than my blog.

Keep praying, researching, sharing, following and donating.

More updates very soon!

The Plan is Coming Together

Since I’m sharing this blog via my Facebook account for the first time, I’m going to give a quick rundown on the past 3 years of my life (all of this is detailed in previous blog entries).  Here’s the Readers Digest version:

God called me to go on a mission trip to Ethiopia in December of 2011.  During that trip I met a then 10 year old boy that is now my son and our fourth child Sofani.  I also met a dentist, Dr. John Balikowski that has dedicated his life to mission work.  Dr. John lives in Sofani’s hometown of Mekelle, Ethiopia, and is working to get the news of Jesus Christ to the people of this country.  In this area, religion is dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox church (96%).  There is also a growing Muslim movement (4%) and a small contingent of an evangelical Christians (<1%).   Mekelle is a rapidly growing city with a population of 700,000.  Ethiopia is one of the only remaining non-Muslim countries in northern Africa; however, this continues to shift more towards Islam.  Dr. John has the cooperation and support of local evangelical leaders that desperately want a place to teach and train new pastors – something nonexistent in that part of the country today.

Ethiopian Orthodox - Muslim - Protestant (Geography of Religion in Ethiopia)

God has called me to help Dr. John spread the word, raise funds and amplify the news of Jesus Christ through a harvest of Pastors and future leaders in northern Ethiopia.  We are channeling funds through New Life Christian Fellowship in Michigan that is led by one of Dr. John’s friends from the mission field, Pastor Bob Roberts.  This has all come together over the past month and I’m fired up to be a part of this.

Here are some updates since the last blog entry.

Dr. John has begun renting a temporary site for the Bible Training Center where the evangelical leaders can begin their work.  We have 90 students that are anxious to begin their studies.  We do, however, need tables (24) and chairs (90).  Considering that Home Depot and Lowe’s don’t have distribution in this part of the world, we’re looking at about $4,200 ($20 per chair and $100 per table).   This is the most immediate financial need that we have.

After speaking about this calling at church 2 weeks ago I had a friend, Dwayne Lott, offer to help me build a website.  This is an area of the project that I needed some help and Dwayne stepped up without hesitation.  I purchased a domain name and we’re currently constructing a site that I’ll reveal in the next entry.  We’re developing content, playing around with the layout, adding graphics, plug-ins, etc. to allow the site to tell the story and call people to act.  We should have this ready to launch very soon. 

The next phase of fundraising – money for a permanent site and facility – will require presentations and speaking engagements.  I’m excited about getting people stirred up to realize that we can do something to introduce Christianity in a rapidly growing part of the world yet to know the truth of the son of God, Jesus Christ.   I’ve seen the need first hand; however, now it’s just a matter of getting the message into a power point and a website.

People often ask me, “What can I do to help?” I try to always give them something to do.  If you’re wondering the same thing here are a few options:

1)      Help. Pray for this project.

2)      Research. Read about the religious history of Ethiopia, the Muslim plan to take Africa – anything that you find of interest on topics such as this and send it my way.

3)      Share.  I could use the help of my friends to introduce me to new contacts that would provide me opportunities to share this project at churches, conferences, etc.  Social media makes this so easy to do.

4)      Follow.  Sign up to follow my blog and stay tuned for the new website!

5)      Donate.  I’m not asking any of you to scratch out huge checks. At this point we need money for tables, chairs and rent.  (We have $1400 raised through 3/8/14)

New Life Christian Fellowship

MEMO: Ethiopia Bible School

Mailing Address:
New Life Christian Fellowship
2237 E Reid Rd
Grand Blanc, MI 49439

or go to:

New Life Christian Christian Fellowship and click the "Donate" tab at the bottom right of the page.  When we get to the "Review Your Donation" page, click on "List Designations" and type in "Ethiopia Bible School.”

Working together for the harvest in Ethiopia,

JB

The Time is Now

In my last blog entry I referred to an amazing man that I met when I was in Ethiopia in December of 2011.  In this entry I want to give you some more background on him as well as some more information on the plan to take the first step in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to Northern Ethiopia by raising funds for the temporary site for the Bible Training Center in Mekelle.

With any fundraising venture, some people may be a bit skeptical about where their donations are going.  I think it’s important for you to know more about how this process will work and who will be on the receiving end of the donations in Mekelle.  I heard from two men last week after I posted my last entry.  Both have served in the mission field with Dr. John and both independently referred to him as “the real deal.” 



"The Real Deal" Dr. John Balikowski

I’ll start off by telling you about this man that has dedicated his life to evangelism.  Dr. John has been in Ethiopia serving the Lord for 9 years.  The first 6 years he spent in Addis Ababa and moved to Mekelle 3 years ago.  Prior to his time in Ethiopia, he spent time ministering in 20 different countries.  The majority of that time – 17 years – was spent as a missionary in the Philippines.  In the Philippines, he started a medical evangelism ministry which is still functioning under the nationals.  He was also a Pastor.  He was involved in Bible school teaching and served as the coordinator for 99 fellow missionaries.  In 2013 Dr. John received the Humanitarian Award from his dental school alumni, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. John first visited Mekelle 6 years ago in order to get permission from the Tigray Health Bureau for a visiting medical, dental and optical team from the United States.  At that time he was informed that there were no licensed dentists in the whole State of Tigray.  The population of Mekelle, Tigray’s capital city, was 150,000 at the time.   He started working with the Tigray Health Bureau and eventually started a dental school in Mekelle.  He was asked if he could train some Tigrinya nurses to do some dentistry. The government officials who recognized the need for dental services in Tigray were very appreciative of what he was doing and his efforts gained favor with the local government.  His dental work translated into a positive attitude toward the Evangelical community in Mekelle.  

When he arrived in Mekelle there were eight Evangelical churches with about 1,000 members.  Today there are 12 Evangelical Churches and about 3,000 members.  The Evangelical Christian population in Tigray is still only 0.1% of the total population.  When he moved to Mekelle three years ago the population had grown to 300,000, largely due to the Universities and Colleges, and the construction industry.  Today the estimated population is 700,000 people. 

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the predominate church in northern Ethiopia (96% of the population).  However, now the Muslim population is growing rapidly (an estimated 4% of the population).  Five years ago there was one Mosque in Mekelle.  Today there are three.  In each of the larger towns, in Ethiopia, where  Dr. John has initiated dental campaigns; there is a new Mosque under construction.  Most of the towns, even towns with 50,000 to 100,000 people have NO Evangelical church.  There is a desperate need to train church planters and strengthen new Christians, thus the need for a Bible Training Center in Mekelle.  For that matter, there are no Evangelical Bible schools in the northern half of Ethiopia.   In the state of Tigray alone, there are over 5 Million people with no schools to teach and train leaders about Jesus Christ.

Pastor Bob Roberts and his wife Beverly

Dr. John recently introduced me to one of his friends, Pastor Bob Roberts.  Pastor Bob and Dr. John served in the Philippines together.  Pastor Bob is now the Senior Pastor at New Life Christian Fellowship in Grand Blanc, Michigan.  Bob has offered his church as the vehicle to get funds from the US to Dr. John in Mekelle.  Bob was very clear that none of the money donated to the Ethiopian Bible College will go to administrative fees.  It’s all going straight to Dr. John to get this important work underway in Ethiopia.

As Christians in the US, we have many denominations of which to choose to worship.  Our beliefs vary from one to the next and it’s very important for everyone reading to understand what will be taught at the Bible College.  The Bible Training Center will be open to all Evangelical Christians regardless of church affiliation.  The doctrine is as follows: Jesus Christ Crucified, Risen, Ascended, and Coming Again.  The Bible College will train on the belief in the Ordinances of Water Baptism and Holy Communion as well as anointing the sick with oil and praying for Divine Healing.  The main curriculum that will be used in the Bible school is from ISOM (International School of Ministry).  The materials will be in English and Amharic (Ethiopia’s National Language).  We will also welcome pastors and Bible school teachers to come and teach block courses.

On Wednesday of last week, my wife’s friend shared with me the cover of the latest edition of World Magazine.  The cover of the issue is entitled “The Battle for Africa” and it details the struggles in Uganda with the insurgence of Islam and illustrates the struggle on this continent between Muslims and Christians.  This is one of those articles that most people read and think “that’s on the other side of the world” or “what can I do about it?”  My friends, we can do something about it.  We can’t solve the entire crisis with one Bible School but we can do something for the Kingdom of God to begin to reverse this trend one soul at a time.  You have that opportunity in front of you right now.  I'm asking you to do something.

Read more about this at: World Magazine Article

On Monday of this week, Dr. John met with the Tigray Evangelical Association of Churches.  The leadership was very helpful and cooperative.  They currently have an option to purchase a piece of property that could easily become a multi-use complex.  The site is on the main highway in Mekelle near the University.  What a perfect spot!  Dr. John visited the location on Tuesday with the leadership and prayed for the Lord to help them with the site.  We will need $100,000 initially to buy the land which already has a foundation for a building.  

On Tuesday, Dr. John visited sites for a temporary school and is working to find someplace suitable with the $5000 that we're going to raise to get things started.  

The Evangelical Association is conducting a survey regarding the anticipated number of students for the program.  More on this in future blog updates.

The last couple of weeks have been some of the most exciting weeks in my life.  God has clearly spoken to me and given me sign after sign that I am supposed to be involved in getting this project underway.  

God has a plan for all of Ethiopia to be reached with the Gospel and the time is now.  We need to train workers for the Vineyard.  The field is white unto harvest.  The Harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  Our time is now.

I’m going to ask for four things.

1) Donate.  Get out your checkbook or  go to the New Life Christian Fellowship website and give something.  We need $5000 to secure the temporary site in Mekelle for the Bible Training Center and get things underway.  We need $100,000 to purchase the land for the site.  Let's start with these two short-term goals in mind.  You can make checks payable to:

New Life Christian Fellowship
MEMO: Ethiopia Bible School
Mailing Address:
New Life Christian Fellowship
2237 E Reid Rd
Grand Blanc, MI 49439

or go to:

New Life Christian Christian Fellowship and click the "Donate" tab at the bottom right of the page.  When we get to the "Review Your Donation" page, click on "List Designations" and type in "Ethiopia Bible School."

2) Help.  Pray about this.  I need people to help me develop the infrastructure for a campaign to raise $500,000 for a permanent site for the Bible College.  I need people to help me with research, coordinating Pastors from the US to visit and train, web developers, prayer warriors, administrative assistants, teaching materials, marketing, etc.  Please consider this and let me know as I’m anxious to coordinate these efforts and get this project underway.  We will get organized and begin our work in front of us.  Who knows… maybe one college is just the beginning.

3) Share.  My last blog entry had 600 views in 6 hours.  Clearly people are interested in helping.  Share this on social media.  Send it to people that you know that would be willing to help be a part of this.

4) Follow.  Follow the blog by signing up for email updates with new posts.  I’m so excited to be able to report back on all of the progress in the days to come. I plan on updating everyone on the progress of donations as well as how the organizational plans come together.

Working together for the harvest of Ethiopia,

JB

Letter from one of Dr. John's Students

Back to Mekelle

Wow.  It’s been a long time since I’ve posted a blog entry.  The blog served as a great way for me to explain how in December ’11 God worked to get me to Ethiopia, have a chance meeting with my now son, Sofani, and ultimately make him part of our family. That experience was life changing for all parties involved.  Trust me.

Today, Sofani is doing well in the 6^th grade at Selma Middle School and has added so much life to our family.  His smile is still as infectious as it was on the day I met him (just ask the girls at the middle school).  People still marvel at how in the world he wound up with us. Sometimes I do, too.

As for the rest of us, we have all adjusted to the new family unit and all of the changes that occur when you drop another child into your house that has been used to living on his own, doesn’t speak the same language and had to have wondered to himself how he wound up with all of these crazy white people.  Over the past year and a half I changed jobs, we all changed our priorities and everyone is better off as a result.  We have found our new “normal” which is a daily adventure.

But that’s not why I’m writing…

Upon return from my first trip to Ethiopia I was saddled with a couple of burdens on my heart – one of them was named Sofani and one was something that I’ve only shared with several people until now.

I’ll try to frame this story so that it makes some sense.

In December of ’11 I was in Mekelle, Ethiopia to deliver Amharic bibles to students at the Ethiopian Orthodox School as well as members of evangelical groups that we met with while we were in town. 

Ethiopia is primarily made up of Christian Orthodox believers.  The practice of this religion is steeped in history and, oddly enough, most of the students that we encountered at the Orthodox school didn’t even have bibles.  We had to receive permission from church leaders to pass these out.  Needless to say bibles are not laying around on bookshelves in homes in Ethiopia.  They are cherished. 

The evangelical movement is active in Ethiopia, also.  Evangelical’s approach to Christianity is more like what I’ve grown up practicing in the US.  It’s about the relationship with Jesus and all of the grace and mercy that go along with it.  Evangelicals aren’t the most popular people with the Orthodox and they’re far outnumbered.   They have to gather and worship in secret.  At one of the services I attended near the university in Mekelle the “greeter” at the church was holding an AK-47 assault rifle.  The irony is that it was the best worship service I’ve ever attended.

After one of our meetings with the Evangelicals we discussed the insurgence of Muslims into the horn of Africa.  On our travels throughout the country, we saw many mosques popping up throughout the country and heard time after time how the Muslims go into communities where hope can be hard to find and invest in these communities.  They have a strategy on moving into Africa – namely through one of the only remaining Christian nations in Northern Africa – Ethiopia. 

Sofani’s hometown of Mekelle, Ethiopia, is at the heart of the fight in the northern part of the country with the highest concentration of Orthodox.  People in Mekelle are on the front lines of this battle – the insurgence of Islam and the oppressed Evangelical movement.

Take into consideration that by 2050 half of the youth of the world will live on the continent of Africa and think about what the world will be like in the decades to come.  Will this population growth be rooted in Islam or Christianity?

While I was in Ethiopia I met a man that was a retired dentist from the US named Dr. John Balikowski.  Dr. John and I hit it off right away.  He left his retired life of comfort in the states for missionary work in Mekelle.  He was teaching nurses and other healthcare workers simple dentistry since at the time Ethiopia had 80 dentists for 80 million people.  Dr. John is also at the heart of the evangelical movement.  He helped get an evangelical school up and running in Addis Ababa and wants to do the same in Mekelle in the region of Tigray.

Upon returning to the states I kept in contact with Dr. John for a couple of months.  With good intentions I offered to help mobilize stateside to fundraise and build a bible college.  Honestly, we became so wrapped up in getting Sofani to the US and getting him acclimated to our family that the bible college idea was placed on the back burner.  My correspondence with Dr. John tapered off and eventually stopped; however, the bible college crossed my mind often.

A few weeks ago I started a bible study at our church.  It’s a program designed to keep you in the bible daily and teach leadership along the way.  I signed up.  One of the functions of the study is to journal in various colors of ink – black with my thoughts, blue with scripture and red when you hear from God.  I thought to myself… “This is kind of weird.  I wonder when I’ll use the red pen.”  God removed the cap of my red pen days later.

My first red pen entry:

1/19/14 - “Research the bible college in Mekelle.  Develop a strategy to raise $500K.  Change the world.”

Crazy, huh?  Considering that $500K was more than enough to build the college based on my conversations with Dr. John two years ago I was not surprised with this number.

Next red pen entry:

1/24/14 – “Listen for my call and obey.  Have ears to hear and eyes to see.  Order the book I showed you earlier this week.”

I was listening to a Christian radio station earlier in the week – not something I do that often – and heard a guy talking about a book that he had written on Islam’s war with Christianity.  I ordered it. 

So Thursday I’m at my bible study.  Todd Austin, one of the fellows that I traveled to Ethiopia with in ’11 walked up to me afterwards and was discussing the results of my “strengths test” that I had completed the week prior (my top 5 strengths were Strategy, Communication, Woo, Achievement, Significance).  He said to me, “God is going to start talking to you on the fly and using you to do something big for the kingdom.”  I started laughing – almost crying – with joy because I knew exactly what he was referring to.  God has been revealing the gifts/strengths He has given me and was clearly sending me signs that it was go-time.

On Friday the book “The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent” arrived.  Staci and I went to dinner that night and I told her that I need to begin researching, developing a strategy and mobilizing to help Dr. John build the bible college.  Not surprisingly, she was completely on board.  Staci and I are nearly always on the same page and this was no exception.  She has had a strong urge to return to Ethiopia and has had several signs from God over the past few weeks that there would be a return trip – just not 100% sure as to when and why.

That brings me to today.  I woke up this morning and reached over to go through my normal routine – put on my glasses, buzz through emails, Twitter, etc.  I had one email that caught my eye, though.  It was from someone that I haven’t heard from in almost 2 years.  Here it is:

“Dear Jason,

It has been a long time since you were here with us in Mekelle.  Hope all is well with you.

We are in the process of finally starting the Bible training center here in Mekelle.  We never heard back anything positive about putting up the building, so we are renting one for now so we can get started.  We are short a few thousand dollars for startup expenses and I would ask the Lord if you or your friends could help us.  Funds can be sent a couple of different ways, one would be through the church in Michigan that was willing to help channel funds for us, and also through World Dental Relief.

Please pray for us as we try to get started.  I already have a curriculum and will work with ISOM (International School of Ministry).

Your partner for the Harvest in Ethiopia,

Dr. John”

I think it’s pretty clear that I’m supposed to have a role in building a bible college in Mekelle, Ethiopia.  I’m asking for some of you to help me in this endeavor.  I am confident that we can raise the funds to get the temporary school up and running as well as another $500K with the proper strategy.  I would like to mobilize and begin getting organized in the next couple of weeks.  Please contact me at jasonbuck1@aol.com if you’re interested in being a part of this or if you have an interest in donating to the cause.  Please follow my blog for more updates in the days to come and watch God move.