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Our trip to Ethiopia was an incredibly rich experience of seeing God at work through our newly-birthed Radio Home Group movement in this great country! In last month’s article, I shared just a few of the interactions we had with pastors and Home Group leaders in the southern portion of the country. So many testified to the power of God’s Word in transforming the lives of the thousands who listen to Dr. McGee’s teaching in their mother tongue. 

For the second half of our trip, we flew to Mekelle, the capital of Tigray in the northern Ethiopian region. This city serves as a cultural, political, and economic hub for the Tigrayan people, one of Ethiopia’s largest ethnic groups. In some ways, it felt as if we had flown to a different country.   

Tigrayans and Amharas are largely Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, with variations in local customs. Oromo people practice a mix of Islam, Christianity, and traditional spirituality. We have Radio Home Groups in all three of these languages.   

Our local ministry team emphasizes bringing the gospel to the people in the Orthodox church, because their practices are much closer to witchcraft and superstition than anything biblical. As we traveled around the Tigray region, we repeatedly heard Orthodox priests referred to as magicians!

Our local partner has distributed Bibles to 55,000 of the 120,000 Orthodox priests in this region. Many of these men are becoming born again as they gain direct exposure to the Word of God. We heard multiple stories of the Orthodox church actively keeping people away from the Bible and persecuting those who come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Many of the believing priests are staying inside the church as missionaries to bring the gospel to those who call themselves Christians but know nothing of the Bible.   

At one of our events, I had the privilege of bringing a message to more than 100 Radio Home Group leaders. Their hunger for God’s Word was evident. 

I met a priest who is so bold in sharing Christ that our partners are concerned he will be expelled from the church! He has personally handed out 280 Bibles. Many of these converted priests are forming Radio Home Groups and helping people systematically learn about God’s truth.

I met a man who serves as a coordinator of Radio Home Groups for the Tigray region.  He works “underground” with many in the Orthodox church.  

One woman testified that she took a media player to her village and had everyone listen. She said the entire village wants to form Home Groups and she invited us to come with players and training to meet their hunger for God’s Word.  

Another man I met drives a motorcycle taxi and plays THRU the BIBLE so every passenger can hear it. He said that an Orthodox priest was converted by listening to Dr. McGee’s guidelines programs! 

Friends, the hunger for God’s Word in Ethiopia is extraordinary. Thanks to your prayer and financial support, we are handing out the Bread of Life in this part of the world.