Oromo churches around the world held conferences and revival meetings as the New Year began.This year, again, the Lord gives us yet another opportunity to experience the renewing works of the Holy Spirit.Conducted in churches in California, Norway, and Australia, the New Year began with a message of hope and renewing power.
For these events Oromo pastors and preachers traveled to many cities in North America and Europe. Pastor Mezgebu Fufa traveled to Toronto, Minneapolis, and Las Vegas. Evangelist Fikru Eticha and soloist Kemiso Abishe were in Oslo for similar event. Pastor Gemechis Buba went to Washington, DC and Denver.Oromo churches in Canada and our Melbourne church also held conferences.
After the conference here in the US, Pastor Gemechis went to Oromia to follow up with the reconciliation and peace process of EECMY started few month ago.There, he also led the youth leadership training seminar. According to the report, close to 500 youth attended the seminary and Dr. Ezekiel Gebissa, a professor at Kettering University in Michigan traveled to Finfinne to give training on this important event.
Church Leadership elections:
In similar news - most of our church’s leadership elections were carried out in an effective and successful fashion. The Washington, DC Oromo church election was so significant as for the last four months the two church’s (merged on October 5, 2007) council members had been working together until January 4, 2009. Now the church has elected its council consisting of seven members and the council will serve for the next two years. Obbo Birhanu N. Yadeta was elected president of the congregation. Obbo Birhanu was the first president of the congregation when it was established about fourteen years ago.
As expected, this church is showing remarkable growth with at least three hundred members with newly elected and committed leaders. The constitution was amended and the budget approved. As mentioned, the election was held and the church is looking for a new Outreach Pastor as the senior pastor of the church, Pastor Waaqtola Dinagdie, who served the church in all difficult times and good times, is preparing to retire at the end of this year.
Oromo Christian Fellowships in Germany:
Although the number of Oromo Christians and Oromo immigrants in Germany relatively small, the Oromo Fellowships continue to exist in some major cities of Germany: Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich. Another small fellowship in Stuttgart meets once a month. The Stuttgart Fellowship includes other Eastern European Christian friends who reside in that city.
German-Oromo fellowships find it difficult to grow.The primary reason is that the number of Oromo immigrant there is quite small compared to those in North America and other European countries.Adding to that is the situation in which those immigrants to Germany have found it difficult, through psychological and other reasons, to conform to the German way of life.As a result, these people are having a problem feeling “at home” in Germany.Further compounding the fellowship size issue is that there are no pastors available.
However, since Evangelist Merga Negeri was granted permanent residence in Germany, the condition of the Oromo fellowships improving. Evangelist Merga, a seminary graduate, preacher, teacher, and leader who is spiritually gifted, will help revive these fellowships especially in Frankfurt and Munich where he currently resides.
Oromo Pastors Teleconference:
A group of 17 Oromo pastors and mission developers held a teleconference meeting on January 6, 2006 to discuss two important issues:
1.Our relationship with other Ethiopian Diaspora churches (our brothers and sisters in Christ): to see how best we can work together as we share the same field of mission back in the home land.
2.The need of regular meetings and consultations of Oromo pastors, particularly those in the USA. All attendees emphasized that regular contact and sharing is important for Oromo pastors and leaders engaged in issues pertaining to ministry and leadership of our respective churches.
The UOEC ministers’ gathering called “Oromo Church Pastors Ministerium” will meet April 17-19, 2009 at a location yet to be decided.The Ministerium will concern itself with ministry opportunities and challenges plus an exchange program that would engender the sharing of experiences.
Women’s workshop:
Our Redeemer Oromo Evangelical Church of Minnesota women’s ministry prepared the church-women Leaders’ Training Workshop. The event will convene February 26-28, 2009 here at Our Redeemer Oromo Evangelical Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Guest speakers are invited and presenters from other states along with other professionals who have training and education in women’s ministry and leadership areas. It is reported that this workshop is to prepare future women leaders in our church in the short term and contribute to the wider Oromo women’s role in our society-at-large.
West Cost conference:
The 5th West Coast Oromo Church conference is scheduled to be held from March 20 - 22, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oromo churches and fellowship in the West Coast are showing significant growth in their ministry and membership. The West Coast Conference has effectively been conducting the outreach-ministry in the Oromo Community of the surrounding areas. Guest preachers are invited from Oromia although we are not yet sure their entry visas will be granted.
