Ethiopia
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| In January 2004, Dorothy Hanson was appointed to a five-year term of service as a consultant on HIV/AIDS in East Africa. Dorothy is one of three AIDS consultants serving in Africa with the PC(USA). She gives technical assistance to partner churches in the region by helping them develop educational programs to reduce HIV transmission and programs on home-based care for people living with AIDS. The other consultants are Caryl Weinberg in West Africa and Janet Guyer in Southern Africa.
Dorothy talks about her call to mission work. “The gospel entered western Ethiopia in 1919 when Dr. Tom Lambie responded to an invitation from Ras Tefere, who had not yet become Emperor Haile Selassie. My parents, the Russells, followed in 1921. A young blind man, Gidada, could be seen begging (at that time, one of the few means of support for a blind person) every day near the mission. My father invited Gidada to Bible study. When he arrived, he sat down outside the door—beggars have no status, so he simply took his place. In Gidada Solon’s autobiography he says, ‘If there was a God who caused this man to invite me into his house and then invite me to sit on a chair, then I want to know more about this God.’ He did learn about God, and he became the first evangelist for western Ethiopia. Gidada spread the gospel in the face of witch doctors, the Italians who invaded Ethiopia, and the Orthodox Church, which for three years prohibited worship in a style apart from its own. He served time in prison, stood trial, and always answered his accusers with Scripture. He read Braille and memorized the Bible. He was the first missionary to work with tribes who did not speak his own language.” Gidada Bible School in Dembi Dollo proudly bears his name today. |
 Partners/Ministries Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY): Rev. Iteffa Gobena, president • Western Wollega Bethel Synod: Rev. Teferi Barkessa, president • Bethel Mekane Yesus School: Teferi Teressa, director • Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology: Rev. Dr. Debela Birri, president • Western Gambela Bethel Synod: Rev. David Thok Lam, president • Illubabor Bethel Synod: Rev. Yadeta Kirita, president • Bethel Synod Coordination Office: Michael Weller, interim coordinator • Bethel Evangelical Secondary School (BESS) • Berhane Yesus Elementary School: Ato Thomas Nano, president • Eastern Gambella Bethel Synod: Ato Ojud Miru, president • Southwest Bethel Synod: Rev. Yohannes Sherab, president • Presbytery Partnerships: Presbytery of Shenandoah, Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley, and Washington Presbytery with the EECMY PC(USA) General Assembly Staff Martha J. Stoner, OGA Brenda C. Stoney, MSS Rebecca Storti, BOP |
 “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; . . . the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20–21). |
 Ps. 81, 116, 143, 147:12–20 Mal. 2:1–16 James 4:13—5:6; Luke 17:20–37 |
