The Exploding Church!

In the end we gave up the struggle.  It's only a village congregation; you really can't fit more than about 400 in the church building, no matter where you squeeze them.  People were still arriving (an hour and a half after the service had started).  So we stopped the service...picked up the benches...and went outside, where worship continued for another hour or so. 

It was a special weekend in Kambatta (south-central Ethiopia).  Bill had been there last Easter, and was very happy to accept an invitation to return, to do some preaching and check out the local cheese.  On Saturday he
preached through the whole book of Jonah (in three bites); on Sunday morning it was 'the sign of Jonah' in Matthew's gospel.  Impromptu drama involving various younger members of the congregation proved quite fun.  Bill's guitar got even more exercise than his voice - various choirs and guest singers used it, and Bill even had a brief go himself, when he could get his hands on it. 

Getting out of the city is important; most Ethiopians live in villages, and we need to be aware of their situation.  Otherwise, the training we offer at the Seminary will become increasingly distant, and irrelevant to the needs of the congregations.  It's great to leave the urban smog and breathe fresh, clean air - in more ways than one.  The atmosphere in Addis has been somewhat spoiled over recent years by conflicts and divisions between some Christians; in this village such things seemed a long way away. 

But the village church faces plenty of challenges.  Hungry believers, many of them young, need plenty of spiritual nourishment; they hope to send two younger leaders to bible school soon.  The life and energy of the charismatic movement needs to be strengthened with clear, biblical teaching. Money is needed, to pay the pastor, improve the buildings, buy a guitar. They're trying to devise ways to generate regular income.  Growing coffee is currently no help, with the world market price so desperately low, but the sugar cane planted around the church compound has proved a little more successful.

Bill and Sara Goodman - March 2003

The Goodmans are Crosslinks' Mission Partners working in Ethiopia