According to some oral tale from the living pioneers, and some written documents, the Gospel germ which was sown by a few Seventh-day missionaries in Ethiopia in the 1920s has fully grown to the two Unions by the end of 2019 namely the Eastern and Western Ethiopia Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventist. Almost after one century, it has reached the level where we have more than a Union in the entire country. Adventism had begun its movement and growth since 1925 G.C. in the former Wollaga Province. This large province, the former Wollaga province, has now restructured and reorganized by Ethiopia Government into five distinct zones, namely West Wollaga, East Wollaga, Kelem Wollaga, Horro Guduru Wollaga and Benshangul Gumuz Zones. The Mission Work has grown in all these areas including some zones like Jima, Illuababor, and Gambella and has reached at the level of a Union with 419 churches and 129 campaniles and 106,978 church members.
There are 12 schools including two high schools, Gimbie Adventist High School and Wollega Adventist Academy. The Gospel work has its beginning point, which is back in 1925 by Mr W. Koelling at a place Called Domi. Domi is about 181 KM away from the Western Ethiopia Union Mission Headquarter Nekemte, or 500 KM away from the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. After two years of hard work and difficult life in Domi (now known as Ayira), the missionaries left that area in 1927 and established a mission post at Gimbie due Malaria disease endemic and other water-borne infections in absence of modern medical aids.
Western Ethiopia Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventist Church
In 1927, the pioneers moved to Gimbie town, 433 KM away from Addis Ababa, where the headquarter of the West Ethiopia conference of Seventh-Adventist is found. After the departure of Mr W. Koelling, Mr Carl Jensen, the Danish missionary, led the work at this second station, in Gimbie and its area. Mr Deresa Danki from Ethiopia was assisting him with the establishment of the new mission station at Gimbie. Life was very hard for Jensen’s family that they had lost three of their children in the time they had spent to establish the Gimbie Adventist Gospel work station. In addition to the Gospel work, the missionaries started a successful dispensary, Elementary School, and by doing that they won the favour of the chief and his coworkers.
Governor Dajazmach (title) Habte Mariyam Gebra Egziabir has played a vital role in being the progressive and cooperative leader. Dajazmach Habte Mariyam Gebregzabiher was the one who provided the land owned by both the West Ethiopia Conference and Gimbie SDA Hospital now. There were only about 5000 inhabitants in the village during the time. Until 1936, the Italians invasion, the school and the clinic were operated well the next five years were the time of less active works of missionary works because of the Italian attack.
In 1941 the missionary work was begun by other missionaries like W.H. Anderson; this year, the government had returned all the missionary stations they had opened before the invasion, as long as they could have operated it effectively. Two families of a Physician and an evangelist come from the United States of America, to open the work in Wollega. In April 1944, Pastor Anderson travelled to West Ethiopia to help to reopen the missionary work in West Ethiopia Field, now, West Ethiopia Conference, in Gimbie. Four Ethiopians, Adem Ali from Zawiditu Hospital as a medical evangelist, two girls: Abaynesh Mengesha and Tihun Haile, Mr Amare Yishaw as translator and two foreigners, Pastor Anderson and Sorenson came to Gimbie to serve the church and the community.
When they arrived, the station was badly misused by the Italian soldiers, most of the houses were out of use. Mr Sorenson and his assistants maintained for the other missionaries to lead the work in West Ethiopia Field. Mrs Herman Davis comes from the USA in 1945 and latter Dr Claude Steen arrived Gimbie to carry out the Medical Work in the whole region and as a president of the field. While the others were working in the town Pr. Anderson walked into the nearby villages and rural areas where he had conducted evangelistic efforts and once he won 41 souls for Christ.
Mr W. Koelling, Mr W.H. Anderson, Elder H. Davis, the first West Ethiopia Field leader after the war, Dr Claude Steen Jr. Elder Palm, Elder E. Bjaanes ( 1956-1964), Pastor A.E Anderson, (1966-1970), Mr John Green (1970-1972), Pastor Negari (1966-1976), Mr Nemera Fufa (1976 for Nine months), Mr David Syme of England (1976-Feb. 1977), Pr. Agegnew Wandim of Ethiopia(197-1979), Pr. Fekadu Olana (1979-1983) of Ethiopia, Pr. Niftalem Lencha (1984). The Church has entertained many difficult situations during Darg regime with the Marxist and Leninist ideology in Ethiopia, when she faced many persecutions, many believers suffered because of their faith. Many churches were taken and destroyed by local authorities in the system. Farming land was taken from individual believers to worsen their life. The church was taken and used for different purposes. God has men and women through whom he revives his church. When the time comes, God mightily used Pr. Tinsae Tolessa and his leadership great revival come with dynamic changes especially after the fall of the Darg regime. Followed by Pr. Merga Leta, Mr.Tilahun Negaeri, Pr.Tesfa Keno, Pr. Lijalem Yigezu were leading the work in the conference respectively. Finally, Pr.Mitiku Etefa is the one leading the west Ethiopia Conference since January 2020.
Now, there are 5 KG Schools, 5 Elementary schools, two high schools including Wollaga Adventist Academy (1967), in WEUM. There are 7 Outer Clinics and one Hospital (Gimbie Adventist Hospital). WEUM has one conference (West Ethiopia Conference, 2013), three fields: Southwest Field in (2013), West Central Ethiopia Field (January 2017), and Gambela Baro Field.
Generally speaking, God has blessed the effort of the pioneers and the current work of the present workers. What the Lord has said by His prophet Isaiah “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isa.55:11 are practical. Humanly speaking the present is being built on the past, Yet God has no beginning and end; he led in the past, leading the present, and faithful to lead in the future. We worship God who is powerful enough to save His children from the grip of Devil. Slowly but surely, God’s spirit was working on the heart of men and women who have heard the voice of God one way or the other, assimilated the truth and are being baptized added to God’s Family. We are growing and growth is one of the signs of life.
In behalf of the Western Ethiopia Union Mission of SDA, it is my invitation to all the lovers of God and supporters of His church, to join us in enlarging and improving the quality of our service to the whole world around us. Communicate to us, pray for the Union, share us your opinion, we will be very glad to hear from you and you are most welcomed.
In 1941 the missionary work was begun by other missionaries like W.H. Anderson; this year, the government had returned all the missionary stations they had opened before the invasion, as long as they could have operated it effectively. Two families of a Physician and an evangelist come from the United States of America, to open the work in Wollega. In April 1944, Pastor Anderson travelled to West Ethiopia to help to reopen the missionary work in West Ethiopia Field, now, West Ethiopia Conference, in Gimbie. Four Ethiopians, Adem Ali from Zawiditu Hospital as a medical evangelist, two girls: Abaynesh Mengesha and Tihun Haile, Mr Amare Yishaw as translator and two foreigners, Pastor Anderson and Sorenson came to Gimbie to serve the church and the community.
When they arrived, the station was badly misused by the Italian soldiers, most of the houses were out of use. Mr Sorenson and his assistants maintained for the other missionaries to lead the work in West Ethiopia Field. Mrs Herman Davis comes from the USA in 1945 and latter Dr Claude Steen arrived Gimbie to carry out the Medical Work in the whole region and as a president of the field. While the others were working in the town Pr. Anderson walked into the nearby villages and rural areas where he had conducted evangelistic efforts and once he won 41 souls for Christ.
Mr W. Koelling, Mr W.H. Anderson, Elder H. Davis, the first West Ethiopia Field leader after the war, Dr Claude Steen Jr. Elder Palm, Elder E. Bjaanes ( 1956-1964), Pastor A.E Anderson, (1966-1970), Mr John Green (1970-1972), Pastor Negari (1966-1976), Mr Nemera Fufa (1976 for Nine months), Mr David Syme of England (1976-Feb. 1977), Pr. Agegnew Wandim of Ethiopia(197-1979), Pr. Fekadu Olana (1979-1983) of Ethiopia, Pr. Niftalem Lencha (1984). The Church has entertained many difficult situations during Darg regime with the Marxist and Leninist ideology in Ethiopia, when she faced many persecutions, many believers suffered because of their faith. Many churches were taken and destroyed by local authorities in the system. Farming land was taken from individual believers to worsen their life. The church was taken and used for different purposes. God has men and women through whom he revives his church. When the time comes, God mightily used Pr. Tinsae Tolessa and his leadership great revival come with dynamic changes especially after the fall of the Darg regime. Followed by Pr. Merga Leta, Mr.Tilahun Negaeri, Pr.Tesfa Keno, Pr. Lijalem Yigezu were leading the work in the conference respectively. Finally, Pr.Mitiku Etefa is the one leading the west Ethiopia Conference since January 2020.
Now, there are 5 KG Schools, 5 Elementary schools, two high schools including Wollaga Adventist Academy (1967), in WEUM. There are 7 Outer Clinics and one Hospital (Gimbie Adventist Hospital). WEUM has one conference (West Ethiopia Conference, 2013), three fields: Southwest Field in (2013), West Central Ethiopia Field (January 2017), and Gambela Baro Field.
Generally speaking, God has blessed the effort of the pioneers and the current work of the present workers. What the Lord has said by His prophet Isaiah “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isa.55:11 are practical. Humanly speaking the present is being built on the past, Yet God has no beginning and end; he led in the past, leading the present, and faithful to lead in the future. We worship God who is powerful enough to save His children from the grip of Devil. Slowly but surely, God’s spirit was working on the heart of men and women who have heard the voice of God one way or the other, assimilated the truth and are being baptized added to God’s Family. We are growing and growth is one of the signs of life.
In behalf of the Western Ethiopia Union Mission of SDA, it is my invitation to all the lovers of God and supporters of His church, to join us in enlarging and improving the quality of our service to the whole world around us. Communicate to us, pray for the Union, share us your opinion, we will be very glad to hear from you and you are most welcomed.