We recently got some exciting news from our church in Ethiopia, Covenant Life Church Addis Ababa. Senior pastor Mo Adugna spearheaded an effort to hold preaching and evangelistic meetings in the Millennium Hall, a large auditorium in Addis Ababa. Mo and his church set the date for April 13, advertised the meeting, worked with area churches, arranged worship, drama, and preaching. But even they were surprised when 22,000 people showed up.

There were so many people that the police eventually had to turn people away. Wondy Getahun, another pastor at Covenant Life Church Addis Ababa, wrote to us,

Our main aim was to preach the gospel and also to impact the city with the Word of God. And the Lord did it. There were many unbelievers who came, and we believe they were touched; they said they could come again. We also felt the impact on our Sunday meeting: we had to rent more chairs that day, and on the Sunday following our meeting at the Millennium Hall, 24 new people wanted to learn about the gospel and gave their lives to Christ….The Lord has opened an unbelievable door.

We got a lot of encouragement from evangelical churches….We were very happy because we believe that what matters most is the local church. All of this work goes hand in hand with the local church….

Please pray for Mo, because he is shouldering a very heavy burden, but we know that it’s for the glory of Jesus.

In May, they held another Wednesday meeting that drew 16,000 people. Please pray that the Lord continues to draw people to himself through the gospel, and to build ever-increasing unity among the churches of Addis Ababa.

Mo and Wondy both attended our Pastors College before moving back home to Ethiopia in 2003 to plant Covenant Life Church Addis Ababa. For more on the church and their vision for Ethiopia, check out this video we produced in 2008 as part of our annual Mission Presentation.