Three Princeton men are part of HR Ministries’ “New Ground Ethiopia Team,” which has two Ethiopia natives visiting the area to share their experiences and how the effort can move forward.
The HR Ministries crew, comprised of Director Harrell Riley, who attends First Baptist Church in Princeton; HR’s Media Director David McGowan, who attends Christ Tabernacle; and David Ginn, a layman attending Pleasant Grove Baptist Church entered the mission fields of Ethiopia on February 7, 2023.
Haile Tefera and his wife, Tsedale, are in Princeton sharing their experiences. Haile the minister that leads Ebenezer, said in his home country, technology is about 100 years behind that of the United States.
He added that God is doing miraculous work in his home country.
This is not the first time Haile has spent time in America, his first trip was in 1990.
The main part of his ministry includes teaching a classical Christian education in Ethiopia. Haile said most children currently teach each other.
Around 80 percent of Ethiopia’s population are children under 18, with a life expectancy rate between 45 and 50. Haile is 60.
Many families in the country subsist on bread, with meat and eggs only available for those with a significant income.
Haile added that money and other donations do not solve their problems, but a Christian education is helping save lives. He invited people to visit his home country to truly appreciate the blessings that God has given America.
Haile is grateful for the over 1,700 students they have already taught and looks forward to what the future holds.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Haile said their church never shut down, and while most countries had millions of deaths, his country only lost about 10,000 residents. He attributes people believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior and praying sincerely from the heart is what helped his people.
Haile and Tsedale will soon return to Ethiopia, where they have seven children, and continue the work of the ministry.
