RELIGION/SOCIETY

“Christ has set us free for freedom..." 

A convention of combined services by Ethiopian evangelical churches based in Vienna and Budapest was held on February 21-23 at Marek Yosef Youth Hostel in Budapest 14 district MOGYORODI UT 59.

Organised by the Ethiopian Church Budapest, the three-day conference was attended by Ethiopians in Vienna and Budapest and guests that included Hungarians and other nationalities. See pictures after the cut

The aim of the conference, according to one of the founders, is to acknowledge God’s revelation in Christ; to confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures and, in obedience to God’s will and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Though the sermon was done in Amharic – Ethiopian official language – it seems there was no confusion for Hungarian audience as Tadesse Eyassu (Dr.), one of the founders of Budapest region of the church, did the translation. 

The guest pastor, Berhanu Chernet, presented a sermon titled, “Christ has set us free for freedom: Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again.”

Pastor Chemet who came all the way from Italy said that the evangelical mission has been growing rapidly for the past fifteen years with about twenty million followers out of the ninety four million population of Ethiopia.

The first of such conference was held in September 2010 at the then African Centre, Wesselényi Street 51 where Mr. Ashenafi Yohannes from Austria officially opened the branch.  

Obviously attendees have doubled from a score who attended the 2010 conference.

Notable personalities at the conference include but not limited to Rediet Ashenafi, the keyboarder who is the daughter of the Pastor in Austria; Gedion Timothewos, a PHD law student at CEU who is to replace the former pastor, Getachew Abichu (Dr) who has since finished his studies and left for Ethiopia.

Mr. Timothewos is expected to lead the Church until August this summer when he too will have completed his studies. 

Reported by Archie Bonka
Edited by Hakeem Babalola

Congregation

Rediet Ashenafi

Pastor Getachew Abichu (Dr) & Tadesse Eyassu (Dr.),

Eyassu & Pastor Chernet

Gedion Timothewos

Guest pastor, Berhanu Chernet