Honoring the Past, Creating the Future In Faith we walk, in Hope we endure. An eventful celebration took place at Danbi-Dollo town where the Western Wollega Bethel Synod is located. The celebration marked prospective and retrospective journeys of faith and ministry. Three events were occasioned at the celebration—launching of pre centennial celebration of ministry in Sayo District of Wollega, dedication of Chenqa Bethel Congregation church building, and ground breaking of a multi-purpose building in the town of Danbi Dollo. Rachel Weller, daughter of former missionary parents, presented a brief account of missionary movements that commenced in 1919 in Sayo district in a miraculous and unprecedented way. Listening to Mrs. Weller as she shares stories of the first missionaries who went through many difficulties, adventures, hopes, despairs, determination and excitement, the Spirit of the Lord Convicted some of us who were exaggeratingly complaining about the dust and twisty detours that we drove through, between Ghimbi and Denbi Dollo. Dr Thomas Lambe, who stepped over the soil of Dambi Dollo as the first missionary, had to travel several weeks to get to the destination. Rachel’s story of Lambe was incredible- “when he was too exhausted and no longer able to walk, someone from among his companions had to back him up a long distance. This is hard to believe but it really had happened. One might suggest on two lines—it should be one the two possibilities—thus, Dr. Lambe must have been too slim (skinny) that he may have not be too heavy for a person to shoulder him up. Or, the person who carried up Dr Lambe must have been extraordinarily strong. Thinking about this from spiritual dimension, however, the case is neither of the two suggestions. It is the Holy Spirit who was in the midst of all these. The Spirit who foresaw the destiny of the people in that particular area from afar acted through the people who committed themselves to seeing lives changed and transformed, and the Lord be glorified. The hurdles were too deep and too interwoven to overcome. Lambe and his companions however, made it through to Sayo District of Western Wollega. This takes us back in to reflection of Biblical stories where God used people of authority to accomplish His mission. The Babylonian Kings-Arxexas and Darrius showed favor to the Hebrew people and allowed them to go restore their nation and its Symbols. These kings were heathen and were not worshipers of the God of Israel, but they opted for the good of Israel when the Holy Spirit prompted them. But this wasn’t just about the Jewish people—it had to do with God’s eternal design of His kingdom that was to come—a kingdom where all nations of the earth would turn to and worship the God of Israel. God did the same thing to Dejazmach Birru W/Mikael, the governor and war lord of Emperor Minilik’s army regiment that was stationed at Danbi Dollo. Here come some flavor of the Reformed theology into action— “God works in and through others”. Nothing would have promoted Birru W/Mikael invite an evangelical missionary into a territory seemingly subdued under a different religious influence, if God did not work through him. Treating sickness of the people was not less a priority in Lambe’s ministry. It will not be exaggerating to rename him as the “Jesus of Sayo people”—who sat among the wounded and healing their wounds, while himself was a wounded one—“a wounded healer”. The vision saw its destiny The missionaries were not satisfied by the overwhelming response they had received in their evangelistic and social engagements. They looked far ahead, to a far country indeed. To reach to the destination revealed to them, they chose to set a strategy that would help raise local leaders who would faithfully serve both with and without their native territories. Humanly speaking, selection was but totally in contrast to the level one would expect. Gidada Solan, a blind man became one of the chosen as one of the envoys to carry the message to the kingdom to other places beyond Sayo District. Though he was physically with a huge limitation, the spiritual vigor endowed in him was seen to God, and communicated to humans to say, yes! to the calling of the Spirt. Through persons like Gidada, the gospel broke out of Sayo into Illubabor, making Gore the second mission center. At this point it was no longer just the foreign missionaries, but local missionaries also joined in the endeavor. The fire of the gospel run into the bushes in unstoppable way, soon to get to the Bench Maji District, making Mizan the center. The Western Wollega leadership and believers voiced out loudly again, reaffirming to sustain the great heritage of the past. They are continuing to itinerate with the gospel beyond their boundaries. A case in point is the work that they have done in Rift valley area—evangelism efforts that created six congregations within a short time. The WWBS is determined to create the future while also honoring the past. They honored the past by recognizing the services of both the existing and the deceased fathers and mothers whose dedication bore all these fruits that the existing generation is grateful for. Some personalities such as Godada Solan Shuramu Yadesa, Mamo Chorka, Ula Fituma, Tarfa Tiba, Tarfa Jarso, Chawaka Mato, Atomsa Shino who deserve mentioning in counting for their heroic waging against the evil and winning thousands for God’s kingdom. Looking into the future, the people of Western Wollega Bethel Synod decided to take up some good challenges, among which construction of a Multipurpose building has received a priority. At the closing of the celebration, a corner stone was laid down under the leadership of Rev. Yonas Yigezu, director of the Department for Mission and Theology of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. “This building will be the best and a landmark the town of Dambi Dollo,” said one of government officials who were in attendance of the event. Danqa congregation Danga is an area in the town of Danbi Dollo. It marks a place where the first missionaries first settled and witnessed the gospel. The congregation launched construction of a large church building some 10 years ago. The construction took such a long time but got completed with an extraordinarily magnificent quality. Dedication of the building occurred on February 16-2014 with more than 5000 people in attendance.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 06:17:36 +0000
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