Leaders from 17 synods in the Mekane Yesus Church in Ethiopia are now focusing on recruiting and sending workers, businesspeople and professionals who will serve Jesus among unreached people groups. “The teaching we have received on this has been an eye-opener for us. Now we are ready to do the job,” says head of the church’s mission department, Tilaye Daba. 

Mekane Yesus is regarded as the world’s largest Lutheran church. As of today, the church has around 11 million members, and the numbers are growing rapidly. 

“Growth is part of our DNA. Already when I took confirmation classes, I learned how I was responsible for sharing the gospel with people around me. Our obligation to bring the message about Jesus to new areas and people groups has however not been clearly communicated. We want to do something about this now, says the mission leader. 

Leader conference 

Last year he was among the representatives when leaders from Mekane Yesus and from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) met in Nairobi. Their aim was to develop ideas on how they can send more professionals and businesspeople to other nations. Norwegian Lutheran Mission (NLM), which is the biggest mission agency in Norway, initiated the conference, and participated with several leaders. Victor Agbonkpolor from Tent Nigeria and Steinar Opheim from Tent International served as main teachers.  

Since then, concrete plans have been made for how the churches can mobilize and send more members. 

“Leaders from 17 synods participated at our recent seminar in Hawassa. I was excited to see how the teaching was received. It was great to notice how the leaders grasped the ideas with arms and heart,” smiles Tilaye Daba. 

New perspectives 

Daba was responsible for planning and carrying out the recent seminar, which was held at NLM’s former base on the shores of the large Hawassa lake in southern Ethiopia.  

“The program gave many new perspectives. Among others, we discovered how those in ordinary jobs can be resources in sharing the gospel and bringing it to new places. It was amazing to see how the leaders were inspired and made plans for how to move forward, says Tilaye Daba. 

In mission circles, businesspeople and professionals who cross cultural boundaries to serve God through life and work, are called tentmakers. The name comes from the apostle Paul, who, according to the Bible, was a tentmaker by trade. 

More opportunities 

Tilaye Daba says that lack of money has made it difficult for the congregations in the Mekane Yesus Church to send more missionaries. 

“Professionals and businesspeople make a living through their work. Thus, when we send tentmakers, the financial obstacles are gone. In addition, Christian workers can travel to any country – even to nations that are closed for traditional missionaries. This opens new possibilities. From Ethiopia, many will go to the Middle East, North Africa, and countries in Asia,” thinks Daba. 

The way forward 

Now he wants leaders from all the 41 synods in the Mekane Yesus Church to join in mobilizing members in their churches for worldwide missions. Two new seminars for leaders are planned to be held in the first quarter of 2024. 

“During the next six months, we will also implement the plans that were made at the Hawassa-seminar. Now that the leaders are on board, we can start planning and doing courses for those who think of going,” says Tilaye Daba. 

Taxi for Jesus 

While traveling in US earlier this year, he experienced how workers in ordinary professions can reach out with the gospel. Immediately after starting a taxi ride in Washington DC, the driver asked if Daba is a Christian. The mission leader answered yes. The driver, who was from the Caribbean, began to share his story when he heard that his passenger was from Ethiopia. He said that he had sensed a call to go to Ethiopia to start a church. While he was preparing and praying, he experienced that God gave him a new mission. It was as if the Lord was saying that He had already given him a church to serve in.

Somewhat confused, the taxi driver prayed for clarification. As he prayed, he felt that the taxi was the church he was asked to serve in and the pulpit he was to use. 

“He shared with joy how he tries to reach out to his customers with God’s love. A good number of his passengers have started sharing from their lives, and he has prayed for them,” says Tilaye Daba. 

Many Ethiopians work as taxi drivers around the world. Daba believes that examples like this can inspire. 

“In one of the taxis I took in Hawassa, I shared this story with the driver. Before we got to my destination, he said he would ask God for help so he could serve him better through his work. Among other things, he wanted to print brochures about Jesus that he could make available in the taxi,” says Tilaye Daba. 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania is also planning leadership seminars this year to mobilize cross-cultural workers.

By Steinar Opheim