Transitions

A letter from Stephen and Brenda Stelle ending service in Ethiopia

October 2016

Western Wolega Bethel Synod Ordains 47 Pastors

Dabala Abdisa is an evangelist furthering his education in the Diploma program at Gidada Theological College. He has been working in a congregation in the Gargada Gawo Presbytery since earning his Advanced Certificate in 2012. Three years ago he married his wife, and they have started a family. These three qualifications—working in the church, earning his Certificate, and being married—made Dabala Abdisa eligible to be ordained on Sunday, April 10, 2016.

That was an exciting Sunday for the Western Wolega Bethel Synod because Dabala was one of 47 men and women who were ordained during the morning worship at the Danka Bethel Church at the Western Wolega Bethel Synod compound in Dembi Dollo. This was the largest ordination class the Synod has ever had, increasing their total number of clergy by nearly 25 percent. Before that day the Western Wolega Bethel Synod had only 192 ministers to serve their 415 congregations in their 19 presbyteries. Like Dabala, the other men and women being ordained had completed a two-year Advanced Certificate program in their own Oroma language, or the three-year Diploma program, which Steve taught at Gidada Theological College in Dembi Dollo. Gidada Theological College serves the Western Wolega Bethel Synod’s need for educating clergy for their ever-growing church.

Dabala Abdisa (right) with two fellow students

This past year Steve taught 60 students in the Diploma program. Around 20 are already pastors who came to upgrade their education. But 40 are studying at Gidada Theological College to receive the education that will allow them to eventually become ordained and continue to fill this great need for pastors of the Western Wolega Bethel Synod.

12th Grade National Exams Postponed

Once again Brenda taught English to 125 11th graders and 120 12th graders at the Bethel Evangelical Secondary School (BESS). We serve the Oromo people, who feel oppressed and unrepresented by the Ethiopian government because the government is controlled by the Tigray ethnic group. Throughout this year Oromo high school and university students led protests against the Ethiopian government. To curb the protests the government cancelled high school classes for over two months in the Oromo region. During that time BESS remained open and Brenda taught her students every day. In particular she worked hard to prepare her 12th graders for the national exams. These exams are extremely important as the government uses the test results to determine a student’s fitness for university as well as the field of study the student will be permitted to pursue.

The exams were scheduled for the first week in June. Unfortunately, an Ethiopian Oromo who lives in the United States got involved in the exams. He threatened the Ethiopian government, saying it should give the Oromo students extra time to study for the exams, otherwise he would post the answers to the national exam on the Internet. Of course the government did not give in to his demand. So on the Sunday prior to the exams the man posted all seven exams and their answers on Facebook. Consequently the government had to cancel the exams and the exams were rescheduled for mid-July. The exams were taken the second time without incident, but since the students went about six weeks without any review with their various teachers, their scores this year were not as good as in the past. We were deeply saddened by how the ongoing protests in Ethiopia have affected the students in this adverse way.

Stelles End Their Service in Dembi Dollo

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the end of our teaching in Dembi Dollo after three years of serving as Presbyterian mission co-workers to Ethiopia. We spent our summer in prayer and discernment to make an extremely difficult decision concerning our personal responsibilities for Brenda’s 86-year-old mother and whether or not we could return to Ethiopia in October. After much prayer we decided to remain in the U.S. in order to move Brenda’s mom out of her home of 50 years (80 miles away) and into an apartment near us. Brenda’s mom will require Brenda’s ongoing care after the move since Brenda’s only sister died 10 years ago, leaving Brenda completely responsible for her mother. This was a hard decision as both of us have enjoyed teaching and building relationships with our students. But we now feel God calling us to remain here: calling us to obey his command to “honor your father and mother” by giving Brenda’s mother the care and attention she needs at this time in her life.

We are very thankful for our time in Ethiopia, and for your partnership in our ministry during the past three years. We are grateful to all the congregations and individuals who have prayerfully and financially supported our teaching ministry in Dembi Dollo. We came to love our students at BESS and at Gidada Theological College. It was a privilege to share our knowledge with them in the classrooms, and we will miss them dearly.

We also want to express our appreciation for the care and support that we have received from all the Presbyterian Mission Agency staff in Louisville, our Africa area coordinator, Rev. Debbie Braaksma, and our regional liaison, Rev. Michael Weller. They have been a wonderful support system during our tenure as PC(USA) mission co-workers. As we leave mission service we hope that you will consider continuing your support of PC(USA) global missions. World Mission specifically asks your continued support, both through prayer and financial commitment, for Michael and Rachel Weller serving in Ethiopia. Some of you also know Leisa Wagstaff serving in South Sudan, and she would value your new or increased support as well. It is our hope that the care and concern you have expressed toward us will be focused on other mission co-workers who are doing God’s work around the world.

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for peace in the Oromo region, where violence and unrest has continued throughout this summer.

• Please pray for us as we transition back into the U.S. with Brenda assisting her mom and Steve looking for pastoral work.

Again THANK YOU! Living in Africa was an eye-opening experience for us and was filled with God’s rich blessings. We will cherish our time as mission co-workers for the rest of our lives, and we praise God for your partnership with us in serving in Dembi Dollo, Ethiopia.

In Christ’s service,

Rev. Steve & Brenda Stelle
brendastelle813@yahoo.com
stevestelle826@gmail.com