News: Ezra Rural Ministry Celebrates Christmas

In spite of economic insecurities and the fact that the Christmas season is a natural drain on every family's pocketbook, church members in America still came through in faith and obedience to raise a special one-time Christmas gift of $2746.00. This gift was sent to Dereje Shiferaw, Director of Ezra Rural Ministry, in time for Ethiopia's celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ on January 7, 2008.

Dereje reports that, with this gift, over 4 tons of wheat and 150 liters of oil was purchased and distributed to, among others, those of the poorest in the Hosanna community-the widows, the orphans, and the disabled. Each individual was given about 55 lbs of wheat and a quart of oil to take home to their families. Dereje says that this will feed the average poor family in Ethiopia for a month! Some of those who received the food gift expressed their joy in tears. Some kissed the ground in praise to God Almighty.

The Ezra Rural Ministry team also met spiritual needs as they distributed the wheat and oil. Dereje presented the Gospel to the crowd, made up mostly of unbelievers, and seven Ethiopians received Christ as their Savior!

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