Anthony, Ethiopia, and Persecution

Anthony is in Ethiopia this week and next ... hoping to train pastors in the cities of Hosanna and Jimma. But this just in from his twitter account:

60+ churches & homes have been burned w/in the last week in Jimma. So, we're unable to work there. Pray for the believers in that region.

And here's a news link. Please be praying.

Ethiopia, and Zambia, and Uganda, O My!

Anthony leaves this weekend for Zambia, to talk with some Zambians about helping to train pastors in Uganda. Then he heads, with a couple of those Zambians, to Ethiopia, to train pastors there. Got it? Follow him @amathenia.

Tweets from Ethiopia

Anthony leaves this afternoon for another round of training pastors in Ethiopia. If there is power and internet at one and the same time (a significant if!) ... you may be able to pick up some updates and prayer requests via Twitter. Even if not, do pray!

Tweetiopia

Follow the latest round of training in Ethiopia on twitter.

Click it

Not much to say (or write) this week ... so I'll just link you up to some folks who are a little more profound and helpful than me right now ...

PsalmTwoTwelve ... for all things Mathenia. I believe Anthony will be posting personal, devotional, and Ethiopi-al thoughts here. Plus its a cool, snazzy looking sight!

The BASICS 2010 pastor's conference in Cleveland. If you enjoy good preaching (or just a good Scottish brogue) these three speakers will float your boat.

And, if you're putting together a Christmas list, check out:

World Vision's Christmas Catalog
Operation Christmas Child
Abba's Living Water

A Million and One Ethiopians

I read 2 Chronicles 14 in my devotional time this morning … and it caught my attention more than some other chapters in Chronicles because of a very noticeable ‘E’ word tucked into the chapter. 2 Chronicles 14 tells the story of a certain Zerah, a military commander from Ethiopia who brought a million man army to fight against Asa and the armies of the Lord. Imagine a million man march from Ethiopia to Israel!

At any rate, the Ethiopians were routed before the Lord that day … so that they fled before Asa and his men. Verse 13, in fact, says that these million men were “shattered” by God Himself. That got my attention. A million Ethiopians shattered … and going to their death without hope and without God. And that brought by attention back to 2009 … where we can say the same thing, only for slightly different reasons. Millions of Ethiopians are “shattered” today because they reject Christ, or follow a Christ of their own making rather than the biblical Jesus. And, just like their ancient counterparts, they are going to their graves “without hope and without God in the world.”

Millions and millions of Ethiopians marching to their deaths. That makes the work of Pastor's Training Institute seem really small and insignificant, doesn’t it? Sixty or so men, trained in a tiny little room, through translators, by a handful of young, American city-slickers? Can they possibly stand up to the avalanche of bodies and souls sliding daily into Ethiopian graves … and, beyond them, into hell?

We’d better hope so! And there is hope, isn’t there? 2 Chronicles 14 isn’t the only place where the Bible mentions Ethiopia, is it? No! Fast-forward a few centuries to Acts chapter 8. In that chapter, the numbers are a little different. This time we do not find a million Ethiopians descending in their chariots upon Jerusalem … but one, single, solitary man. And this Ethiopian didn’t meet, as his ancestors had, with the fury of the Lord ... but with His mercy! He didn’t meet God’s armies, but God’s preacher, Philip, who proclaimed Jesus to him! And the African man was changed forever … and “went on his way rejoicing”! “Went on his way” … where? Well, presumably back to Ethiopia; and, presumably, bringing the good news with him!

Why were there so many Christians in Ethiopia so soon after the close of the New Testament? Probably because there were already a lot of Jewish people in that part of the world who readily accepted that the Old Testament Messiah was the New Testament Jesus. And possibly also because, if tradition is right, Andrew the apostle may have gone there with the good news. But I think the early spread of the gospel in Ethiopia may have had something to do, also, with this one Ethiopian man who went to Jerusalem on religious pilgrimage, and met Philip (and Jesus!) on the way back home.

One solitary man can make an incalculable difference if it’s the gospel of Jesus that is coming from his mouth! So maybe the millions aren’t such daunting numbers after all. Maybe there is a lot more strength behind PTI than would outwardly seem possible. Maybe there is one man whom God is going to touch, to send on his way rejoicing, and to use to woo untold masses to Jesus. Would you pray for them (especially as the pastors come together in mid-June)? Would you ask the Lord to raise up another Ethiopian eunuch (or thirty or forty of them)?

May the Lord smite a million Ethiopians once again … this time with a repentance that leads them to Jesus, and to life eternal!

Odds and Ends

A few notes to pass along:

*PTI-Ethiopia is gearing back up for a June training session. Also, the format is morphing a bit. Read up on it here ... and please do pray.

*A book recommendation here. God has been stirring us, ever so slightly, to think about and pray for revival. Won't you pray with us? And get this book and see if the Lord doesn't stir you, too.

*Also, a footnote on the last two, football-analogy driven articles ... remember that analogies only go so far. While I used Ohio State football as a metaphor for the power of the gospel, it should be noted that the analogy breaks down pathetically when they are matched up against an opponent from the Southeastern Conference.

Out of Africa

Wow! It doesn’t seem like 4 full days have passed since my feet were firmly planted on African soil. But they have. Thanks for being patient and waiting until now for this update. What a jam-packed 10 days we had! Five full days of teaching. Denominational meetings. A Wedding. And a professional burglary hit mixed in just for fun. It was truly a whirlwind tour. Maybe that’s why it took me a little longer to recover this time around (although don’t remind me that Anthony ran a half-marathon less than 24 hours after touching down in Memphis!).

My first experience of an Ethiopian wedding came on our last day in Ethiopia ... [Read the whole article] ...

Wanna go to PTI?

Several folks have asked me: 'So what exactly are you teaching in Ethiopia?' Answer? A bunch of stuff I've already taught here. Of course, things will be re-shaped slightly for a slightly different context. The Stonewall Jackson illustration on leadership, for instance, may not mean much to a room full of Ethiopians! Some of the areas of needed emphasis will change slightly, too. Americans and Ethiopians both have theological blind-spots. But they are not always in the same places. Where, for instance, I needed to emphasis the plurality of elders here in Cincinnati, I will need to place more emphasis on the spirituality of elders in Ethiopia (that they are more than a board of trustees, IOW).

Below are the links if anyone would like to go to PTI with us. To really feel like you've been there with us, get up in between messages, drink some scalding hot tea, eat some lentils with your bare hands, bang on a drum really loud, and sing at the top of your lungs to Jesus!

The Church
Membership: Requirements
Membership: Privileges
Membership: Responsibilities
Church Discipline
Why Elders?
What do Elders do?
Qualifications for Elders
Deacons
Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Enjoy. And "pray for us, that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified" (2 Thessalonians 3.1)!

Prayers for Ethiopia

Anthony and I depart this Wednesday afternoon for Ethiopia and PTI, Round 7. Here are a few ways you can be praying for us…

1. Our travel. Every time I get on a plane, the thought occurs to me: ‘There is no way this several ton metal bird is going to get off the ground.’ Of course I know it actually can … and there are physics lessons that could teach me why. But, ultimately, it is God who keeps us in the skies. And it will be God who enables us to make all our connections, in spite of winter weather, tricky layovers, and so on. Pray for smooth sailing.

2. Our souls. We are going in order to give, help, teach, and so on … on behalf of others. But it is possible to do that from a very dry well; a cold heart. So pray that, with all the rearranging of schedules and sleep, that we would find (no, make) time to be with Jesus each day. I plan on grazing in the books of Genesis and Exodus while we’re away. Pray that God would make me “lie down in” these “green pastures” … and show me Jesus.

3. Our teaching. This round of messages is on the doctrine of the church. What, really, is a church? Where does she get her authority? Who leads … and how … and why? Who should be a member? What about accountability, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper? All of these are questions upon which there is much confusion … both in Ethiopia and the U.S.! So we need to be sharp and clear. We need to make sure the men are getting it. And we need to have a keen ear and wise heart when they ask questions related to their culture. There are a number of tricky issues. So pray for us!

4. Our students. Based on what we have seen in previous sessions, I have every confidence that the men will be in Addis Ababa in full force, with their ears and hearts wide open, and their thinking caps on. Praise God for these men! But pray that their hearts remain open and their thinking caps on when they go back home … and when, eventually, they go to new fields to start churches. Much of what we are teaching is going to be music to their ears, I think … but brand new music. And when they attempt to implement more biblical patterns of church membership, leadership, etc., there may be (just as their often is in America) some opposition from other Christians. So pray that God gives them hearts of courage and wisdom … especially in the weeks after we have come home.

5. Our partners. For many years now, God has been building and flourishing a wonderful connection of Baptist churches in Zambia (and a few other southern African nations). From what I hear, this group may be as theologically sound and evangelistically zealous as anything we know in the West – maybe more so. They are several years further along the road of fruitfulness down which we hope to send our Ethiopian brothers. And they have agreed (Praise the Lord) to help – to provide further training, mentoring, and counsel to the Ethiopian Baptists! This week, two Zambian leaders (Conrad and Wilson) will be in Ethiopia, meeting with Anthony, some Ethiopian leaders, and the trainees. Pray that this is a wonderful time of blessing … and the beginning of a Christ-honoring, fruitful partnership.

6. Our families. Hannah, Ellie, and Isaac. Tobey, Julia, Andrew, and Silas. All of them will have family and church family nearby. But it is still different when dad is gone. Pray God protects and gives joy to them all!

Thank you. And blessings in Jesus!

I will soon be eating one of these...

Is this furry creature a sheep or a goat? How do you know? What are the differences between sheep and goats (biblical pun intended)? See ANSWER below.

These are some of the issues Anthony and I will be addressing as we head to Ethiopia again in January for Pastor's Training Institute, round 7. Our topic? The doctrine of the church. What is it? Who should be a member? Why? What about leaders? Who, really, is in charge? And so on. Sound simple? If so, you are ahead of the game! Many church-goers (American and Ethiopian) may have no more answers than you do about the animal above! But surely the shepherds of the church ought to ... both in America and Ethiopia!

So please pray that we might do a faithful job of communicating what Spurgeon called "the dearest place on earth ... the church of Jesus Christ" to these 60 or so men. And pray that the fruit of our ten days away might be beautiful, faithful, Christ-centered churches.

ANSWER: This, my friends, is a sheep. I know, I know. It doesn't look like the furry white sheep we are accustomed to. But there are other kinds of sheep. And they look very similar to our American goats. But they are not the same! Easiest way to tell? A sheep's tail hangs down, while a goat's points up. There are other differences, too. Google away if you're interested.

"Everyone's Starving in Ethiopia"

That's what the headline on CNN.com reads this morning. That's a bit of an exaggeration. But there is a serious food crisis owing to this year's drought conditions. You cannot save all of Ethiopia, but you can do a few things...

1. Pray that this year's rainy season (our summer) would provide much needed relief.

2. Pray that body-hunger would lead many to a soul-hunger for the living God. Many of those who face starvation are Muslims, superstitious Orthodox, and pagans.

3. Pray for the believers in Ethiopia - that they would minister the physical and spiritual compassion of Jesus in these days.

4. Send bread - figuratively and literally. You can't feed Ethiopia. But you can make a dent by feeding one child. Compassion International works through local Ethiopian churches (including the one where PTI takes place) to feed, clothe, educate, and evangelize the poor children of Ethiopia. $39 a month (so little for most of us) can go a LOOOOONG way in a place like Ethiopia. For some children, God will use it to stretch all the way to heaven.

Home!

Made it home about 3pm today. So glad to see Tobey and the kids ... and gratified that we can come home feeling that the LORD, in every way, achieved His purposes through our small efforts.

Anthony, Frank, Joseph, and Jamie should arrive in Memphis around 6pm ET. Check out some of their thoughts here.

PTI - Wrap Up

Pastor's Training Institute, Round 5 finished its fifth and final day today. By God's grace we were able to cover Genesis 1-11 the first two days - emphasizing the nature of sin and its effect, and demonstrating that, even in Genesis, Jesus the remedy is clearly seen. The last three days we spent covering the better part of the book of Hebrews - demonstrating how Jesus is greater than the angels, than Moses, than the prophets, than the temple, than the sacrifices, and than all the rituals and traditions tat so often plague the church here (and at home in the US!). All these religious topics, Hebrews says, are valuable only as they lead us to heaven's favorite, Jesus. And thus, to focus our attention and affection too heavily on any of them is liking eating the pie crust while leaving the filling untouched (I had to adjust that illustration for these out-country pastors who have never enjoyed pie!).

It seemed that, overall, the men really benefited from and understood what we covered. Please pray it will be applied in their lives and ministries. The traditions and pressures here make it difficult for different ways of thinking to shake down from head and heart to practice in the home and church. And much of what we saw in the scriptures WAS quite different from what is typical in the churches here.

Anthony has been able to make a lot of contact with folks who really needed to see him. That, I think, has been a blessing. As badly as I, and many of you, needed to see his face in late January ... the people here are experiencing that relief and closure. And he seems to be really encouraged by the times he has had. Tonight and tomorrow he finishes packing his belongings for bringing home.

O a personal note, I was able to spend my afternoon off today climbing a small mountain with one of Anthony's friends and with an impromptu 12 year old Ethiopian guide, Muleke. Wow, I am out of shape! And wow, what a beautiful country this is - especially when you get out of the city, which we did. Horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and donkeys EVERYWHERE, dotting beautiful open hillsides and valleys.

Pray for us as we leave tomorrow (3:10pm ET).

--

PTI - Day 3

Another good day. I REALLY enjoyed teaching from Hebrews - 'Jesus, Best of All'. The men seemed to drink it up. It is usually hard tell what they are thinking since they can't speak English, but they seemed visibly encouraged.

We carry on with 4 more messages from Hebrews tomorrow and 2 more Wednesday morning. Please continue to pray for us all!

PS - treated myself to my first shower in five days today!

PTI -Day 2

Greetings again from Addis. We were able to finish Genesis 1-11 today. The men seemed really encouraged to see how full of Jesus and the gospel the book of Genesis really is.

The translator also commented that it is quite helpful to observe someone preaching right through a book. Most sermons here, he said, preach messages which in which they skip here and there and everywhere using verses that don't really relate to the issue at hand. In other words, they think up a sermon outline and then go back and find verses they think will 'work'. So ... it seems that the men are not only soaking up the content, but also learning, perhaps, a more helpful way of actually preparing and delivering their sermons. That is one reason Anthony asked me to do the material in this manner (verse by verse straight through Genesis and Hebrews). I feel gratified that the Lord is making the time so useful.

We begin Hebrews tomorrow morning (at about 3:30am ET). Please continue to pray.

Anthony spoke to the men today, too, for about 45 minutes on the goodness and sovereignty of God in the midst of trials. It seemed to have a real effect. The men had a time of prayer for him and the children and presented him with several gifts as a token of the affection and condolence.

All in all it has been a full and good day. One passage that has been very near to me has been 1 Kings 17 - the widow's oil and flour not running out. The Lord has done this for me, energy wise, each day, in spite of long days and some difficulty adjusting to a different sleep schedule. The oil has not yet run out. In fact, I feel more energized than normal. Pray that the Lord keeps filing the flask.

PTI - Day One

Hello again from Addis Ababa. PTI got started a half day late, on Saturday morning instead of Friday lunch. I guess they are still running on 'African Time' here. At any rate, the first day went well, I think. Covered the first 4 of 9 sessions on Genesis 1-11 and felt the men were really attentive. Their reactions and questions, as compared to a year ago, demonstrate that real progress has been made. Thank the Lord for that - and pray that more is made as I (hopefully) finish Genesis 1-11 with an eight hour day tomorrow, and begin Hebrews on Monday morning.

Do pray too, for the time constraint. As those of you in Cincy would 'amen' ... I always have a little trouble getting it all in anyway ... but the loss of a half-day is going to really push the envelope. If we have electricity (which we did not today until about an hour ago), I may be able to do an evening session or two after dinner time next week.

Anthony seems to be doing well and getting some necessary things done. Continue to pray for that aspect of our trip, too.

We made it!

Arrived in Ethiopia about 2:30 Eastern Time. Everyone is safe and well. Do pray as PTI start tomorrow afternoon (about 5am Eastern). More soon if technology cooperates.

Pastor's Training Institute - Ethiopia

PTI round 5 is quickly approaching - one month from this coming Monday. So I thought I'd post a brief reminder to be praying for myself, Anthony, and a few other men from his church as we travel May 21-30. I will be doing the majority of the teaching - first from from Genesis 1-11, and then from the book of Hebrews. Do pray for the Lord's help as we train 60+ men to take the everlasting gospel of Jesus to the unreached villages and towns of Ethiopia:

• For the message prep that still needs to be completed
• For the eagerness and openness of the trainees
• For adequate rest (jet-lag, long teaching hours, late night talks, etc.)
• For logistics (our travel, the trainees' travel, expenses, etc.)
• For Anthony, who returns 'home' with all sorts of new and unforeseen emotions, needs, and tasks
  
• For our walks with the Lord (Anthony, myself, plus Frank, Jamie, and Joseph who are going to be helping Anthony pack his belongings to bring back
  
• For long-term fruit - that many new and faithful Ethiopian churches might be birthed as a result of PTI

Thank you so much. Stay tuned for updates - pre, mid, and post-trip (theological pun intended). I lean toward post.


NOTICE:
If you are interested in sponsoring a pastor (or two, or ten) ... you can send a check to:

Christ Community Church
P.O. Box 795
New Albany, MS 38652

Earmark the check for PTI ETHIOPIA. After the men and their churches cover 25% of the expense, it costs roughly $40.00 to feed , transport, and house each trainee throughout the sessions. I think we are still in need of about $1000.00 (sponsorship of 25 men). Thank you, as always, for your generosity.

Money Well Spent...

Some of you have graciously supported Pastor's Training Institute-Ethiopia. Others have prayed. (And others may be moved to after reading this update). As you know Anthony is in a two year process of training Ethiopian men for the ministry.

Mind two facts: 1) He is working with the most biblical denomination in the country - a very theologically poor country. And 2) He is teaching relatively untrained men through translators who are the leaders of the denomination.

This week, he is teaching 75 potential pastors through the doctrines of sin and man. Here is a quote from his latest update:

My translator even commented today that he had never considered that sin was primarily against God. He said that he thought it only affected him and maybe his family.

WOW! Is the truth Anthony shares worth the money it costs to do it...and the prayers that uphold him? This quote proves the answer is YES, yes...a hundred times yes! This revelation alone is worth more to the kingdom of God in Ethiopia than all the gold in Fort Knox is to the economy of the world. Please be in continual prayer...and consider giving.