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A letter from Carolyn Weber in Ethiopia

August 2013

Dear Friends,

The 2011/2012 Spiritual Formation class. Worku Jebessa is the man in the back row with a blue shirt and white jacket.

In January 2010, while preparing for my mission as a seminary instructor in Ethiopia, I had a chance conversation with Rev. Dr. Michael Parker, who was then serving as the mission specialist for worldwide evangelism and theological education, at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Ky.  Mike emphasized the importance of engaging the seminary students in conversations about the traditional spiritual practices of their ethnic groups.  We spoke about the Western scientific worldview that mostly rejects miracles and the personal presence of good and evil in the world.  Since then my second-semester spiritual formation students have written papers about the spiritual warfare in the traditional culture of their ethnic group and described how the power of Christ has overcome those forces. The students have given me permission to copy and/or publish their papers.  These will be shared occasionally throughout the year.

The following was submitted on May 15, 2012, by Worku Jebessa, who has worked much of his life as a nurse and health officer. PHOTO 1 and PHOTO 2  He is a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and an active church leader. This fall he will begin his third year of seminary studies at Mekane Yesus Seminary, which is sponsored by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, a partner church of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Worku Jebessa celebrates the successful completion of his first year of seminary

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined (Isaiah 9:2b NRSV).  Before the gospel reached in my area, the society was in great problems.  They worshipped many gods.  The community was very low in education and economy.

"The traditional culture of most people was to worship sun, moon, mountain, rivers, big trees, and the men with bad spirits who were dominated by evil (kelicha). [Other spellings for this word are kallu, qallu, kalicha, qalicha.  Some say that kelicha is the spiritual practice and the kallu is the person in whom the spirit resides. The kallu is like a prophet—their god—which reveals the future, present, and past and requires gifts or sacrifices such as sheep, goats, oxen, money, honey in order to do the spirit’s bidding.  Even a young girl might be required to become a wife of the kallu.] … The community killed sheep or goats during September and October; in December and May they made blood sacrifices under big trees.  They gave money and other materials for kelicha.  Also they contributed money and provided food for the priests to be more successful in life condition.  However, many suffered in their health from communicable diseases and low economic status—the numbers of poor people and uneducated people were high.

Carolyn updates Discovery Presbyterian Church in Omaha, Neb., about the Ethiopian mission

"The community was fighting each other and killing—no peace, much fear.  Divorced men and women were very high in number.  Here there was no food security, no good houses—very few basic necessities.  There was no justice, only cruel government rule.  The lifestyle was generally confused.  There was unity among the family members, but for every problem created by individuals, the family, or the society, the people went to the kelicha.

"After the communities changed to Christianity, Satan’s spirit was removed from the people, and the Spirit of the God of Israel took its place. Everything changed—spiritually, mentally, economically, and psychologically everything improved. The work of the evil spirit was destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ.  After the destruction of Satan, the number of schools in our district grew from two elementary schools to two high schools and 24 elementary schools.  Where there was one health station, now there are five health centers and 24 health posts providing much greater health coverage.  There is a good pipe water supply, modern telephones, and all-weather roads.  The food security in my area is now enough and the economy of the society has increased very much.

Sharing about Ethiopia with the Morgan Park PC Vacation Bible School

"The rule of the Kingdom increased.  After the conversion from traditional culture to Christianity, peace, love of family, and the level of education increased. The community has become rich; many good things have happened.  Satan and his work were destroyed and the mighty God has become the King of Kings. Satan’s power has fallen down.  The society has become strong and healthy—mentally, physically, economically, psychologically and politically.

“See I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19)."

 

Praise and Prayer

  • Praise God for the spread of Christianity throughout Ethiopia.
  • Pray for spiritual and physical protection for all who are going up against the powers and principalities in order to be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Praise God for the Mekane Yesus Seminary students who seek to be faithful to God’s call as they face great challenges in their lives!
  • Praise God for the miraculous healing in my eye through the cataract surgery in July!
  • Praise God for the opportunities to reconnect with churches in Pacific Palisades, Calif.; Omaha, Neb.; Park Rapids, Minn.; and Chicago, Ill.! PHOTO 3 and PHOTO 4
  • Pray for the administration, staff, and instructors to creatively carry out God’s will at Mekane Yesus Seminary and to guide all students on campus to grow more Christlike day by day.
  • Pray fervently for peace, wisdom, and reconciliation in Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

 

Thank you for your wonderful support through prayer, encouragement, and giving for my mission and the mission outreach of so many others. I invite you to come alongside me and other mission co-workers like me in prayer, communications and financial commitment.  May God bless you in all your faithful service to our Lord, and may you be fruitful!

Carolyn Weber (Rev. Dr.)

The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 107
Read more about Carolyn Weber's ministry


Write to Carolyn Weber
Individuals: Give to E200472 for Carolyn Weber's sending and support
Congregations: Give to D507530 for Carolyn Weber's sending and support

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