We had an incredible time in Ethiopia. We spent the week hanging out with street kids, walking alongside prostitutes and meeting people that rely on trash at the city dump as a means of sustenance in Addis.
On Thursday we walked into an open prison courtyard in Mekelle with 2,500 inmates accompanied only by a pastor - no guards - and had a worship service in the brand new building that is the first extension of the Bible Training Center. It was mind blowing.
On Thursday we walked into an open prison courtyard in Mekelle with 2,500 inmates accompanied only by a pastor - no guards - and had a worship service in the brand new building that is the first extension of the Bible Training Center. It was mind blowing.
There are so many hurting people living in despair. But with every meeting it was impossible for us not to think, "What if this was our son, our wife or our daughter?"
Whether it was circumstances beyond their control or poor decisions they made that played a role in their current situation, everyone we encountered wanted the same things - to be noticed, to be loved, to have hope and to be redeemed.
That's why the end of our week is so awesome. No, not the fact that we're hopping on a 787 Dreamliner to return to a life we take for granted in America, but because the first group of students just graduated from the Bible Training Center in Mekelle, Ethiopia (The first of its kind in the history of Northern Ethiopia). I was humbled to give the keynote speech and challenged the students to put their education to use by serving, leading, discipling and multiplying.
What do students graduating from a Bible Training Center have to do with street kids, prostitutes, prisoners and all of the other hopeless sinners out there? Everything. They represent relationships, love, hope and redemption.
These students will start small groups, then churches and, if they do it right, they will have their followers pointed outward into the margins of society meeting people right where they are. They will teach their followers to love and care for people just like Jesus intended.
This, my friends, makes getting on the plane a lot easier. I know these new leaders have been trained to do this very thing. They may not fix the entire situation but they're going to do something.
Thank God for all of the hearts that were changed and checks that were written to fund the school in such an awesome facility and location. It's been said all along, God had a plan for this school. We were so fortunate to be apart of today's celebration.
Whether it was circumstances beyond their control or poor decisions they made that played a role in their current situation, everyone we encountered wanted the same things - to be noticed, to be loved, to have hope and to be redeemed.
That's why the end of our week is so awesome. No, not the fact that we're hopping on a 787 Dreamliner to return to a life we take for granted in America, but because the first group of students just graduated from the Bible Training Center in Mekelle, Ethiopia (The first of its kind in the history of Northern Ethiopia). I was humbled to give the keynote speech and challenged the students to put their education to use by serving, leading, discipling and multiplying.
What do students graduating from a Bible Training Center have to do with street kids, prostitutes, prisoners and all of the other hopeless sinners out there? Everything. They represent relationships, love, hope and redemption.
These students will start small groups, then churches and, if they do it right, they will have their followers pointed outward into the margins of society meeting people right where they are. They will teach their followers to love and care for people just like Jesus intended.
This, my friends, makes getting on the plane a lot easier. I know these new leaders have been trained to do this very thing. They may not fix the entire situation but they're going to do something.
Thank God for all of the hearts that were changed and checks that were written to fund the school in such an awesome facility and location. It's been said all along, God had a plan for this school. We were so fortunate to be apart of today's celebration.
Please join me in keeping these students and the other ministries we partnered with this week in your prayers and if you feel led by some of the stories and images that were shared, jump in and support them financially.
Special thanks to our wives, families and friends for holding us up this week in prayer and letting us soak up this experience. We love you. We're heading home!
Special thanks to our wives, families and friends for holding us up this week in prayer and letting us soak up this experience. We love you. We're heading home!
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