The Ethiopian Church Journal Blog

  The Church JESUS Built in Santiago    By Pastor Jerry Cross I had never seen my father weep uncontrollably before. He came to visit me my first year of seminary, he a pastor, missionary, theology professor, came for one purpose, to try and convince me to not go into pastoral ministry. Weeping, he begged me not to make such a horrible mistake! He said, "Son, I know you well, your gifts, your weaknesses, your temperament, and above all how introverted you are, so much so that you run from people. Son, I assure you that in ministry there is nowhere to hide. You must constantly deal with people, something I know you hate to do!"  I answered him, "Daddy, I know that you are warning me because you love me and do not want me to make such a mistake. I actually agree with every word you say about my temperament. So much so that I have told my Heavenly Father the exact same thing a thousand times, that I am not cut out for pastoral ministry. Not only does he not

  Lent a Way of Life By Mitiku Adisu credit: jamestabor.com Not all Christian groups know what to do with the 40 days leading up to Easter. Everyone recognizes Lent as a church tradition, but they frequently look to scripture to avoid taking time off to reflect on Jesus. Attempts are made to supplant the season with activities, to simply remember it in a haphazard manner, or, in exasperation, to dump the tradition at the door of liturgical churches. Lent, it is understood in some quarters, does not suit the lifestyle of the urban dweller. However we wish to observe Lent, what matters most is, in the end, not activities  per se but Jesus; not evasion or presumed observances but consecrating oneself and the season to Christ and his Holy Spirit. One avoided distractions in order to focus solely on Jesus, the Bread of Life broken for us.One gains by losing. In other words, a jolt of righteousness! Too much focus on the individual [and less on the community] has progressively led to

Martin Luther’s ‘dream’ church? It wasn’t in Europe By David D. Daniels | October 28, 2017 Triptych of the Virgin and Child, Ethiopia, 17th century, Tempera on gesso-covered wooden boards. This item will be on display at the Museum of the Bible. Photo courtesy of Museum of the Bible (RNS) — This year marks the 500th anniversary of the launching of the Protestant Reformation in Germany. Commemorations will be held from Memphis to Mombasa to Mumbai to Munich. Yet, most events and books on the Reformation explore it without any reference to African Christians. This silence is profound, and I would like to break it by offering possible Ethiopian connections to Martin Luther and the Protestant movement. Luther launched the Protestant Reformation in 1517, but he had begun that year fascinated with Ethiopian Christianity. That will come as a surprise to many of today’s Christians, even scholars, who are accustomed to discussing Luther and the Protestant Reformation

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:             Brace yourself like a man;                  I will question you,              and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?     Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! … “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow     or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble,     for days of war and battle? What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,     or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,     and a path for the thunderstorm, ... Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?     Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard     and the clods of earth stick together?  [READ JOB 38-40] ] 2017 is a year of great upheavals. It could all be passed over as simply Nature "correcting itself"

credit: fineartamerica.com Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all t

The Beginning And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. And God said, "Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.

Charleston and Christian Response By Mitiku Adisu Here is the story: On June 17, 2015, a young man showed up to a Wednesday night prayer meeting with a concealed weapon on his person and a heart loaded with hate. It's not the normal way to join or remain within the believing community. Judas did Jesus in with a stealthy kiss. Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane at the time, and it was night. Nothing is really new; no one knows, save God, what goes on in a person's heart and mind—not even the person once he or she is possessed by demons. "Then Satan entered Judas" [Luke 22:3].  The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve."  [Jeremiah 17:9–10] The Charleston visitor was made welcome, probably too overtly, because not many show up on a Wednesday night, especially for a praye