3rd Quarter Issue
July - September 2002
Your Prayers Are Needed

     As you read this, Brother Melese is on his final mission in the Middle East.  Since July 25, he traveled to United Arab Emirates, Kenya and Djibouti ministering to thousands of Ethiopians.  On his last stop, he will be in Beirut, Lebanon.  We will report to you the details of brother Melese's mission trip on the next issue of News & Views.  In the mean time, we encourage you to pray for safe travel back home and for those who are ministered to in the Middle East and in East Africa.  Pray for all the seed that is sewn to grow and bear fruit.
     We are receiving many letters from believers in Eritrea where churches and church organizations are shut down. Believers take risk to get together for worship and Bible studies. Many are relying on Christian broadcasts on the radio for their spiritual nourishment.  Recently, Christians are having difficulty getting the radio signals they used to listen to without any problem.  They suspect the signals are being jammed.  Please pray that we can provide our fellow believers the Christian literature and tapes they request and stay on the air broadcasting daily the encouraging words from the Scriptures.

 
Encouraged to Press Forward
We recently had a telephone conversation with a friend and partner in the Lord's work from High Adventure Ministries, the ministry that broadcasts our daily radio programs.  After the phone conversation, brother Don McLaughlin, Canadian Director of Outreach, wrote me the following letter.  You will be challenged and encouraged at the same time with what he has to say.
     I have been thinking about our conversations surrounding the new radio signal we are starting for Ethiopia.  In fact it is difficult to think of anything else.  I would like to encourage you to press forward and expand your tents...
     Just last week I had the privilege of meeting with 5 key Ethiopian pastors here in Toronto.  All major languages were represented (Oromo, Amharic, Tigrinya and Ge'ez).  At this time there was strong concern expressed for Eritrea where evangelical Christianity has been greatly restricted, with radio becoming a key to communication there.
In addition there was strong concern for Ethiopia, where the approach of Islam is almost overwhelming.  I can personally testify to that fact.  During my visit to Addis Ababa I drove through the Muslim section where a shop owner now has to be Muslim.		 I saw tremendous need of that city where 100,000 young females prostitute themselves out of spiritual and financial need, which is so intense.  I was shocked to drive the streets and find huge numbers of people out of work and simply waiting.
     I spent two different visits to the 

section of the capital city of Addis Ababa called Eri BeCentu.  It means "Cry or call for help and no one will come to your assistance."  It was deeply saddening to know there is a place where people go and cry and are not heard...even police officers avoid this place.  But radio can penetrate even the darkness of that depressing section of Addis.
I will never forget the pain in the voice of the Swedish missionary who spoke to us of the terror of the approaching AIDS problems in Addis. 
     He said that although the world figures suggest that approximately 19% of Addis Ababa residents are HIV positive, his personal experience working with infected ones would suggest that figure to be much closer to 30%. Imagine what it means for a country to have its capital city infected with HIV and almost one third preparing to die with this dreaded disease. It is no wonder that so many people have no hope...it is no wonder that “Eri BeCantu” exists.
     THE POWER AND STRENGTH OF ISLAM is almost overwhelming the nation of Ethiopia - even now. As I traveled, I was told by people there that in the summer of 2001, Muslims in nearby Sudan openly declared they would 'take' Ethiopia and they were actively printing Korans (Muslim’s holy book) in huge numbers. As I drove from Addis to Nazareth and on to Assela, it was shocking to see very few water wells along the road, but every few miles a new mosque. How tragic to see Ethiopians living in fields of grass huts while the god of this world has built for himself virtual palaces, often right beside these poor villagers. This is to me another testimony to the intimidation tactics that the enemy uses in Ethiopia. ...placing costly Islamic temples in poor villages, placing the world's most lavish Sheraton Hotel in the midst of a city of people many of whom have no running water or other hygienic facilities necessary to healthy living. The message was clear.  Muslims have money.  If I were an Ethiopian that did not know the Lord and was struggling to survive on the $50.00 per month that most try to live on there, I might think seriously about their offer of $500.00 to convert!
The message that Ethiopia needs to hear, the message that surrounding Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Kenya need to hear,  is that Jesus really does love Ethiopians and He loves Muslims ... they need to know there is forgiveness for them too.  We need to have more time on the air to get this message out there... a few hours per day or week is not enough.

     This is clearly the time to invest in the souls of Ethiopians. 
Blessed To Be A Blessing


Barbara Miller is one of our dedicated volunteers here at EOM.  She lives in York with her husband, Eric, and their two children, Alex and Tanya, and they attend Emanuel Christian Fellowship. She has been volunteering at EOM for the last three years. We first got to meet Barb when our longtime friend and volunteer, Cindy Kalinoski, brought her along to volunteer. Since that day Barbara, along with her children, has been helping us whenever she can. Her commitment is very much appreciated by all of us at EOM.

     We recently asked Barbara what inspires her to continue volunteering at EOM and this is what she said:

     "I like to be in a place where God touches people’s lives. Being able to bring my children to the office and getting them involved is the other reason I like to volunteer.  I also like the fact that I don't have to plan anything, I can just come and do the work.  I think it is neat to be in a place where God is, and I know He is with you."

     Marilyn Brown, a long time friend and partner in the Lord’s work shared the following when asked about her volunteering experience at EOM.

Have you ever looked through an issue of “Voice of the Martyr” or gotten gripped in some other way by the horrendous ways Christians in other countries suffer? Have you ever thought of all the countless souls that are dying every day without ever having heard the name “Jesus”? And have you felt just as helpless as I often do in the face of all that, wondering what you can possibly offer to make a difference? 

     Like most of you, I am not in the position of going far from home to extend the love of Jesus. So He gave me an opportunity to do something of real, eternal value right from my home. He gave me wonderful friends in Misiker, Sossy, and Melese, and He gave me a burden for the many, many Ethiopians they minister to every day. I do my little bit - I edit - and thereby become a part of something way bigger than me or even EOM. Joining God in what He’s doing is never a waste of time - find out by volunteering some of your time at EOM. You will not regret it.

 KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK FRIENDS!

To the friends and partners who responded with your gifts to the requests listed in this column, thank you for your prayerful support and encouragement that has been shown through your gifts to supply needed equipment and tools to promote God’s work in a more effective way.
Those of you who want take part in this, you can send your special donation to help the ministry acquire the following items that will increase the outreach’s effectiveness.

For the Radio and Cassette ministry:
Professional Cassette recorder - $449
     Praise the Lord! This is covered by Weyneshet, a 
     partner from Texas. Thank you sister for your extra 
     sacrificial gift.

Professional CD player - $375

Immediate Needs For other ministry areas:

Color printer:
        HP cp 1700 - $579
 
 

Digital Photo Camera - $399
           KODAK DX-4900 4.1 MEGAPIXEL
 

Digital Video Camera for our
         video Ministry - $1,550
         JVC JY VS200U Mini DV
         Camcorder
 

      If you prefer buying any of the items yourself and mail them to us, please contact us for details. We are also willing to have a better model of the item(s) if you find a comparable price.

     When you send your gifts to one or more of the projects listed on this page, please designate your gifts accordingly on the ‘Memo’ or ‘Used for’ line of your check or money order. We will make sure your gift is used specifically to the project you selected. Make your check or money orders payable to EOM.  Thank You.
 


 
 
 

Dear EOM,
The daily radio program has been providing wonderful lessons for me and others like me here in Assela. May God’s grace be with you to continue in this ministry.  To Melese Wogu, who prepares the lessons, I say God bless you. May He use you even more. I will keep you in my prayers.

  Fekede Tena


Dear EOM:

On the day that God assigned I found your much desired radio program. I was very excited. Ever since I found it I have been blessed. God touched me using your program. Continue to do the work you are doing. I have decided to 

 support this program.  I will be sending 2 birr every month. Pray for me.

   Your brother in Christ,

  Teshome Sime
   (Bale, Ethiopia)

Dear friends at EOM,

I would like to thank you for the wonderful service you have given us all these years. Your ministry has been very helpful to our daily Christian life.  May the Lord bless you and continue to give you all the strength and resources to expand His kingdom.

  Emnet T.
  Bronx, NY
 

 My dear teacher Brother Melese,

I am writing this letter to thank you for the help you have given us to grow spiritually through your thorough teachings of the Bible.  Many of my sisters in Christ and I who are living in Beirut now understand many things about our God that we have not understood for many years. God is using the Bible studies, cassette tapes and books that we received so far to shape our life for the better.  We are getting stronger in our faith each day. My friends and I cannot thank you enough for your ministry and give all the glory to God.

  Lemlem
  Beirut, Lebanon
AUTHENTIC ETHIOPIAN DINNER

EVERYONE IS INVITED!

We look forward to seeing you at
the biannual authentic Ethiopian dinner banquet that is held on
Saturday, October 12, 2002

Time: 12:00 Noon until 6:00 p.m.

Place:  Salunga Mennonite Missions Fellowship Hall
RSVP: by October 10, 2002

The meal has no charge, but we ask that you consider making a free will contribution to Ethiopian Outreach Ministry.