Pastors planting churches and vegetables in Koka - Ethiopia
In the city of Tininsh Demena (TD) there are four communities whose pastors accepted the holistic ministry message after years of living in darkness regarding their role as leaders in the community.
Among these pastors, we met Pastor Brihanu, from the small village of Koka to whom this story attributes its title.
Koka was for many years known to be an area where Christians faced serious persecution. Pastor Brihanu’s little kiosk was a safe space for many Christians to enjoy sweet fellowship and learn God’s word. These customers would frequent his shop even if not to buy anything, to feed their souls through fellowship. From this small shop, 20 churches have been planted with cell groups (Bible study groups) to maintain the culture of sweet fellowship in prayer and Bible reading.
Contrary to expectation, the same Christians whom he shared the Gospel with begun coercing him to close his little shop and focus on the ministry work of preaching and teaching the Gospel. They would say to him, “You are not a businessman, you are a pastor! Stop turning neglecting your calling!”
These words stung deep and he kept postponing the closure of his little shop. On this lonely journey of decision making he was convinced of one thing – the shop was his way of sustaining the ministry work and his family. Closing the shop would mean many troubles for his family’s upkeep and the effective running of the 20 churches he had planted.
These words stung deep and he kept postponing the closure of his little shop. On this lonely journey of decision making he was convinced of one thing – the shop was his way of sustaining the ministry work and his family. Closing the shop would mean many troubles for his family’s upkeep and the effective running of the 20 churches he had planted.
The pastor has become a planter, not only of churches, but also of vegetables. His example of godly passion and productivity is testament to the holistic message they are now preaching to the 20 churches.
Possibilities Africa showed up and was used as an instrument of hope. From the holistic message, he was encouraged not only to stay on course but to expand his approach. “I always knew that God has more in terms of ministry and that more is about being holistic!” He exclaimed.
The training he received from PA, along with other pastors, was the motivation he needed to boldly step out into his leadership role – with a clearer sense of what being a pastor in his community meant.
He has proceeded to partner with fellow pastors from his group (TD CIFA) to establish a vegetable farming project. Beginning his holistic journey on a new level, Pastor Brihanu has taken Pastor Ermiyas under his wing to guide him on commercial farming. The loan received from PA has served to help them establish an onion farming project from which they anticipate a bumper harvest.