Ethiopia: In the Footsteps of Philip

By Rev. Willem Glashouwer

In Acts 8:26-40 we read how the Lord told Philip to go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza: to meet with a man from Ethiopia, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians. Philip joins the chariot of this Ethiopian Jew, and while driving explains to him at his request what chapter 53 in the precious scroll of the prophet Isaiah means. The scroll that this man from Ethiopia probably had bought in Jerusalem, where he had been to worship. After Philip’s explanation and having told him the good news about Jesus, this eunuch continues his way rejoicing, back to Ethiopia!

In 1 Kings 10 we read about the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Salomon of Israel. Although it is not quite clear where she came from – some say from a south-west region in Arabia, others that she was the only female Pharaoh that ever ruled in in Upper and Lower Egypt – but the tradition in Ethiopia says that she came from their country. And upon returning some Jewish people started to live there too: the Ethiopian Jews that recently have been returning to Israel after over 2500 years. The treasurer of Queen Candace that went to worship in Jerusalem and met with Philip on his way back to Ethiopia was probably one of them.

So there are some deep Biblical roots between Ethiopia and Israel.

And suddenly today the door was opened for Christians for Israel to come to Addis Ababa – Ethiopia, 31 March – 04 April 2014. Drake Kanaabo, our East-African director in Kampala-Uganda and also an evangelist in many countries in Africa and all over the world (today his campaigns went into already 54 nations worldwide, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Gentiles) invited me to join him on a three-day campaign in a remote rural area in Ethiopia – and bring them the Biblical message about Israel!

And the Lord confirmed the message by ‘signs and wonders’. I saw how the Lord healed a 17-year old young woman who had been deaf and dumb all her life: suddenly her ears were opened and she learned on the spot to say: “Amen!” And 4-year old girl with deformed legs was instantly healed: the shape of the legs suddenly became normal, and right there her mother taught her the first steps to walk. No need to say the mothers were overjoyed!

Some 4-5 years ago I was allowed to do the same thing in Kampala-Uganda, where Drake had invited over 100 pastors for a whole day of teaching – and that led by the grace of God to the starting of the work of Christians for Israel in Uganda and from there into many other countries in East-Africa.

In two days 100-150 pastors showed up in Addis Ababa at our invitation to listen to the Biblical teachings about Israel. They were totally surprised and immensely grateful and enthusiastic to hear about Gods everlasting Covenants with Israel and the fulfilment of Biblical prophecies now that the Jews are returning home, back to the Promised Land – as a sure sign of the Coming of the Lord, the Messiah of Israel, and of His Kingdom. And Drake told them about the practicalities of today’s existence of the State of Israel, and about the possibilities how to visit the land of Israel and see the modern miracle with your own eyes!

The pastor of the Church where the meeting was held was immediately ready and willing when asked by Drake to become the chairman of a working committee to start the work of Christians for Israel in Ethiopia. Right before I left to fly from Addis Ababa through Tel Aviv to Amsterdam, the first meeting of the committee took place. So please pray for Chairman Pastor Eliyas, and Secretary Kenani Tesma, and Treasurer Banchi Bekele and the other members Debela Bayisa and Amente Hunde!

Rev. Willem J. J. Glashouwer
President Christians for Israel International

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