Borana (March 2013)
“I am happy to join this JESUS Film Church Planting Strategy (JFCPS) because it gives me an opportunity to expand the work of God and enlightens my view of my calling. I have not planted a new church in the past three years,” said Pastor Golicha Dida of El Bethel Church in Hidi. Through this strategy, an Action Group (6-10 individuals trained by JFCPS team in evangelism and followup) from his church was equipped with church planting manuals and the Road to Life tract that has been translated to Borana by JFCPS. They showed the JESUS film in a nearby village called Tirro where 25 people gave their lives to Christ and are now receiving follow-up.
Another pastor, Wariyo Dahessa, expected many souls to be “converted from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light” because Christians were trained to share their faith, resulting in transformed lives in the area. “Our greatest His desire is to see a new church,” he said.
Pastor Dahessa and four members of his congregation received training from the JFCPS team. Among them was Dida Shunne who was very grateful to be part of it. “I received a lot from the training. I am teaching the follow-up lessons to 13 new believers as a result of the JESUS film showing. I want to become a new church plant leader/pastor and help our new church plant to grow,” he said.
Pastor Tura Jareso of Hidilola Mekane Yesus church was fully sold out on the strategy that he was willing to walk three hours to follow up new converts and lead the church plant in Gombessa Karsalati.
The strategy has truly excited pastors and Action Group trainees who have begun to see results in villages where they conducted JESUS film shows and followup. “I joined the Action Group to spread the gospel with my church and to know the Word of God better,” said Jarso Arero from El Bethel Church. “The training exceeded my expectation. It equipped me a lot to be the person Christ wants me to be. I desire to follow up with new believers using the church planting strategy because it is focused. This is the first time I experienced such a training. I desire to plant and lead a church,” he added.
“I have been a Christian for nine years before joining the Action Group,” commented Jillo Gume of Kilta El Bethel Church. “After the training, I shared the Road to Life tract and my personal testimony, and my entire family received Jesus. I am so happy and want to share the tract to as many people as possible.”
Even a relatively new Christian like Kale Begaja, who became a Christian one year ago, has led people to Christ since the training. “I now understand how I can share Jesus with other people. Because of my witness, five people have accepted Christ. I am now teaching the follow-up lessons to the new believers,” she said.
Due to the overwhelming response to the new JFCPS, 10 church plant locations were realized in Tirro, Daka Kalla, Gode, Kilta, Hidlola, Gurbisuga, Kuro Kantalla, Metti, Anna Ekka, and Gombassa Karsalati.
