South Ethiopia Field

South Ethiopia Field is a part of Eastern Ethiopia Union Mission in the East-Central Africa Division of Seventh-day Adventists.

Current Territory and Statistics

The current South Ethiopia Field (SEF), after the territory was divided into two in 2017,¹ covers a geographical area starting from Hawassa town up to the borders of Kenya and Somalia (Sidama, Gedeo, Guji, West Guji, Borena, Burji, Amaro and Somali region), with a total population of 11,864,662.²

The Field office is located in Hawassa town, 275 kilometers from the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, in the Tabor SDA church compound. The first office building has been at the Beach of Hawassa Lake since the 1960s, up to the time it was moved to the current site because the water in the lake increased and covered the whole area.³ The territory is dominated by Protestant and Pentecostal churches, though there are some Muslims and Orthodox believers as well.⁴

The field has eight districts/zones (Bore, Central Guji, East Sidama, North-Central Sidama, North Sidama, South Sidama, South-Central Sidama and Yabello area), and the total membership is about 31,968 in 175 churches.⁵ It has six schools, including Hawassa town. All schools (five kindergartens, one elementary school, five elementary and Junior schools, one high school and one preparatory) are running.⁶

Origin of Seventh-day Adventist Work in the Territory

A young boy by the name of Fekede Gemechu, now a renowned surgeon in the United States, was a high school student at the Ethiopian Adventist Training School (currently called Ethiopia Adventist College/EAC) in the 1950s. Fekede, with a group of high school students, was actively involved in a program the school had, designed for its students during the three-month-long rainy season vacation, lasting from July to September. This group had chosen Sidama Region as their field of labor. Their mission was to witness through the distribution of free literature, encouraging people to enroll in Voice of Prophecy courses and conducting Bible studies with interested people.

Fekede’s interest in witnessing was so heightened that even during the school year he spent his weekends in Sidama revisiting contacts while making new ones.⁷ A copy of the Bible Speaks, distributed by Fekede, fell in the hands of Woldesilassie Gebreegziabher, then working around Aleta Wondo as a Christian minister. Woldesilassie found the book unique in some ways and challenging in others. He studied the doctrines in the little book until he had gained sufficient understanding to decide whether to accept or reject its entire message. His sincere investigation with an open mind convinced him that he was reading truth.

Even without contacting the Seventh-day Adventist leaders in Kuyera, Woldesilassie had begun teaching and preaching the Adventist message as he had found it in the book.⁸ Adventist leaders were surprised to learn that he had already made many converts on his own. He had been baptized in the Sudan Interior Mission church, but he decided for rebaptism in the Adventist church because of the new insight he had just received. Elder Rasmussen baptized him in 1954, in Kuyera.⁹

In 1955, when Truneh Woldesilassie was working as a teacher at Ethiopian Adventist Training School, Woldesilassie reported to Elder Rasmussen, the principal of the school, that many people in Sidama had accepted the teachings of the Adventist church and were ready and waiting to glean more truths from the Word of God. He further informed them that those people were looking for an Adventist minister to go and instruct them.¹⁰ After consulting with the administration committee, Rasmussen informed Truneh that he was chosen to travel to Sidama with Woldesilassie and learn about the new self-ignited movement.¹¹

Truneh’s mission to Sidama lasted eight days. Because Woldesilassie was a mobile evangelist with a mobile message, they covered long distances, meeting many interested groups and preaching several sermons each day, and at the end of each day they felt highly rewarded. Their last visit was to the home of a prominent gentleman named Titile, living on a high plateau in the village of Arfe, reached after a whole day walking on foot.¹² At the end of the meeting, a young man named Kebede Merasa came to Truneh and asked if they could discuss Adventist doctrines in relation to other churches. Merasa was certain that the teachings of his church were right and those of the Adventists were wrong, and was determined to win Truneh to his church.

Using a kerosene lamp, they spent most of the night discussing the doctrinal differences of their churches. The time spent together was well-spent. Before he left, Merasa told Truneh that he had accepted the doctrines of the Bible and was prepared to live by them. He was baptized in 1956 with nine others as the first fruits of Sidama, and went on to serve many years as a pastor.¹³

Joining the Adventist Church meant considerable sacrifices for Woldesilassie. One of the many was that he was prohibited from using burial land by all religious groups in that area, including the Orthodox Church, an anguish particularly felt when his son died.¹⁴

Organizational History of the Field

With Sidama areas opening up for the Advent message, a reorganization of the field was called for. In 1965, Tekelehimanot Kelecha, a pastor who had lost his eyesight, was transferred to Hawassa to administer the work of the district in Sidama, Arsi and Borena.¹⁵ Using Daniel Uge and Agaro Abite as his guide and interpreters, Pastor Teklehimanot walked on foot, rode mule- back (usually with a guide), climbed stiff mountains, and crossed deep valleys and rivers to bring hundreds of people from the Sidama area to the kingdom of God’s grace.¹⁶ Teklehimanot’s successors were Ashenafi Wodeso, Petros Chengero, Kebede Merassa,¹⁷ Lebso Enjamo, Batri Belayneh, and Ambaye Teka.¹⁸

The church district office in Sidama and Guji moved to Dongora in 1975. Dongora is not centrally located, so the district office was moved to Abosto in 1995. After some time, Sidama was divided into two districts, Abosto and Jemjem, with the leadership of Pastor Ambaye and Tessema Dubale, respectively. After 1999, Pastors Ermias Filate and Batri led the work.¹⁹

When the work started in 1947, the South East Field office was in Kuyera, Oromo region, but was later moved to Abonsa and then to Hawassa under the leadership of V.E. Toppenberg, Lester Rasmussen, Eric Palm, A.E. Anderson, Dessie Kassahun, Solomon Woldeendreas, Berhane Wolde Mariam, Gebre Michael Felema, Petros Chergero, Agegnehu Wondim, Lukas Adde,²⁰ Yosef Mella, Fanta Cheleabo, Tessema Dessalegn, Addisu Mengistu, Abraham Teka, and currently, Daniel Doyamo.²¹

Development of the Field

The work expanded, to areas like Arsi-Negelle, Sidama Guji, Gedeo, Borena, Gamo-Gofa, Wolaita, Kambata and Hadia, so in 2014 South-East Ethiopia was organized, and reorganized in 2017. In 2019 it was divided into two, creating the South-Central Ethiopia and South Ethiopia fields.²²

Bore and Central Guji District/Zone:

In 1973, a layworker named Woldesenbet Bokuto became the first pioneer for this area. His first fruits were Desta Halake, Jilo Gelchu, Bere Borema, Dube Basaye, Banata Jarso and Edema Dukale. Even though all passed through much persecution during the Dergue regime, they remained strong in their faith and are serving their God faithfully as lay persons. Among them, Edema is an ordained pastor and is currently retired. In 2017 the area was divided into the Bore and Central Guji Zones because of the wide area which made it difficult to reach people. While Bore has 25 organized churches and six companies with more than 3,400 members, Central Guju has 13 organized churches and six companies with a membership of more than 1,600.²³

East Sidama District/Zone:

Fareso Ugamo was a gospel minister in the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church. In 1962 he met Woldesilassie and accepted the Sabbath. He was baptized by Pr. Teklehaimanot. He served the Adventist Church church as lay person in different places in the Aletawondo district for five years, and convinced many persons. Fareso went, with zeal, to Aroresa /Kewena, a place where there was not a single Adventist member. In 1963, after many efforts, he won many persons and established the first church, Chefe, and then many other churches in that area.²⁴

The history of East Sidama would not be complete without talking about Da’eti Daramo and her husband from Alata Chire, and Kubaye Daragoof Dobe. They became strong witnesses of their faith. Kubaye Daragoof Dobe took a strong stand for the church and was instrumental in reaching the Silinga area. The first person who accepted the Sabbath in the Silinga area was Tamiru Endeshaw, now a retired ordained pastor. The Eastern part of Sidama has 12 organized churches and 11 companies, with more than 1,500 members.²⁵

North-Central Sidama District/Zone:

Among the nine persons baptized with Kebede Merassa was Biramo Simano from Afarara village. After his baptism, Kebede went to a place named Chiriko and met Kaye Kankeso, a man who worshipped idols. Kebede shared the gospel with him. After much discussion and Bible study, Kaye joined the Adventist Church. Even though his wife left him for a time because of his new belief, he remained strong. When she came back she started worshiping the true God with her husband. They used the small hut they had constructed to worship idols for the worship of the Living God.²⁶

A minor conflict between Kaye and Biramo forced Biramo to venture out to the Gola area and construct a church there. This was the starting point to reach the Yanase area with the Adventist message. Biramo’s interest in spreading the Adventist message continued, and he convinced many people. One of them was Dalecho Dando, a gospel minister of the Sudan Interior Mission, baptized in 1957. As a pastor, he served in different places, including the Yanase and Aletawondo areas, reaching many new places with the Adventist message. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he gave basic education to the community, especially in the Yanase area. This free service earned him a good reputation in the community, reaching the hearts of many with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.²⁷ At this time, in this district, there are 27 organized churches and nine companies, with more than 6,200 members.²⁸

North Sidama District/Zone:

The Adventist work in North Sidama, especially in the Tula area, was started in 1958 by Amado Gelgelu, from Arsi Negelle. The ministers Samuel Gaye, Alaso Tafo, Ayele Sulga, and Mengistu Meta met Amado in Tula and discussed the Sabbath and other Adventist teachings. After several Bible study meetings, Amado sent them to Ethiopia Adventist College for further instructions. When the group reached Kuyera, the administrators sent them back to Tula and advised them to see Pastor Teklehimanot, who was serving around Dongora, 50 kilometers from Tula.²⁹ Both parties made an appointment to assemble in Tula. On the appointed day, the group with additional people gathered together and waited for Teklehimanot. Among them was Wako Orisa, Kayamo Letamo, Lankamo Latamo, and Gosa Latamo. After many questions and answers, the entire group baptized in 1959. These were the first group in this area.³⁰

For its first year the newly baptized group in the Tula area worshipped together in a hut Wako Orisa had donated. In 1960 they changed their worshiping place from the small hut to one with corrugated iron sheets. Even though they faced many challenges from different directions, including the government, many people joined them as they witnessed to their faith, and the group expanded.³¹ The Adventist Church has spread to different areas like Boko, Bushulo, Jara, Boricha, Haisa shone, Shamena-arbe, Shamena-kadida and others, with more than 9,400 members under 36 organized churches and seven companies, of which some are ready for organization.³²

South and South-Central Sidama District/Zone:

The Adventist work in Sidama grew after the visit of Pastor Tiruneh, in Aletawondo, in 1955. Woldesilassie was the first Adventist minister in this and the Woto area. His successor was Daniel Uge, in 1966, and then Abayneh Halelo, in 1968.³³ Among the nomads from Wolaita, coming with their cattle around Loko, were two Adventists, including Rokonsa Gota. Their influence spread the Adventist message to different places like Hida. The first person to join the church from this area was Haramo Karfafa, who helped established the Hida Adventist church. He and his group were persecuted by the surrounding community because of their new beliefs. Nevertheless, in a year’s time the Chire, Danchame, and Loko, churches were established.³⁴ Today in South Sidama there are 17 organized churches and 14 companies, with more than 2,600 members, while in South-Central Sidama, there are 43 organized church and 20 companies, with more than 5,200 members.³⁵

Yabello area District/Zone:

The South Ethiopia Field started work in Bule-Hora and Yabello aided by Adventist World Radio (AWR). In Bule-Hora a group began listening to AWR programming together invited AWR Oromiffa-language programming producer Pastor Gemechis Jaffe to visit them. When he visited Bule-hora in 2008, he only met Boru Gelge. After Bible study, Boru accepted Adventist church teachings. In 2010 Pastor Gemechis assigned the first pioneer to nurture and assist him in reaching the town. They began worshiping God in a rented house. Pastor Gemechis baptized Boru in 2011.³⁶ Now he is a gospel minister in the area, working hard to spread the truth he believed. In Bule-hora there are about 21 baptized members even though, every Sabbath, more than 60 souls worship God in their own church. More than a half of the number are university students. The church is stretching to the surrounding towns 20-75 kilometers away from Bule-hora, and has three branch Sabbath schools, Melka-Soda (eastern part), Finchawa (southern part), and Sakicha (northern part).³⁷

In Yabello town, Abudo Gelgelo began studying a Voice of Prophecy printed lesson, reaching out to the Addis Ababa Filwuha Adventist church. When he finished, in 1999, seven persons from Filwuha Adventist church went to Yabello to visit Abudo and to give his certificate of completion. This group stayed there for a week and encouraged him to accept the message and to be firm in it. They studied the Bible with him and his two friends whom he had invited, Molu Solessa and Seido Huka.

The group returned to Addis Ababa, thanking God for guidance and a successful mission. While there, the observed that the area had been hit by famine. They reported to the church board, and the board decided to send some relief to that community and if possible build a church and a school in the town. They worked hard, collected money from inside and outside the country, and bought and distributed corn. They continued to fundraise for the church and school buildings. Now in Yabello, there is a big church building constructed in 2001, and school building from kindergarten up to grade eight built in 2004. A major actor for this accomplishment is Enyat Sendek, a member of Filwuha Adventist church.

The first persons to be baptized at Langno Lake were Molu Solessa and Seido Huka in 2001. Currently, there are about 15 baptized souls while nearly 40 persons worship God there every Sabbath.³⁸

South Ethiopia Field runs six schools in six different areas. The schools are at various levels. Some are full primary schools:

Hawassa Adventist School was established during Pastor Lukas Adde’s leadership in 1996. The first principal of the school was Fanta Hotamo, a retired teacher.

Dongora Adventist School is the first school in Sidama. The school was opened by Mr. Blackwood in 1967. It runs up to grade 8.

Aletawondo Adventist School was started in 2004 in a rented house, when Pastor Lukas Adde was president of South East Field. The first principal was Tadesse Rassa. Today the school has its own building, and offers kindergarten classes, elementary, and junior secondary.

Bore Adventist School began through the initiative of several people: Pastor Shiferaw Dulecha, Pastor Bere Borema, Pastor Ayele Gelgele, Pastor Edema Dukale, Tesema Gelichu, and Beyene Basaye. The school opened in 2005, offering grades one through four. In 2006 the kindergarten opened in the center of the town at a location the government gave to the church. The school now offers classes through grade eight.

Yabello Adventist School started in 2004 when Pastor Lukas Adde was South East Field. The school was built by a lay person from Addis Ababa Filwoha Adventist Church, Enyat Sendek, fundraised from different individuals living in and out of the country. The first principal of the school was Molu Solessa. For 2 years the school was hijacked by some individuals, but now the local government has favored the church and the school is back.³⁹

Challenges

South East Field has passed through many different challenges, of which the biggest was offshoot groups like Present Truth Association, Reformers, Davidians, International Missionary Society, The Fifty One, Spiritual Adventists, Beria. These groups have affected the field’s work, in a way that was not easy to handle. Consequently, some have feared joining the Adventist Church because of their fanaticism. Also. many church members were taken by these false teachings. Nevertheless, leadership and pastors are working hard to restore spiritual health.

List of Presidents

V. E. Toppenberg; Lester Rasmussen; Eric Palm; A. E. Anderson; Dessie Kassahun; Solomon Woldeendreas;⁴⁰ Birhane Woldemariam (1971-1975); Gebremichael Falama (1976-1980); Petros Changaro (1981-1985); Agegnehu Wondim (1986-1990); Lukas Adde (1991-1995); Yosef Mella (1996-1997); Fanta Chaleabo (1998-2000); Lukas Adde (2001-2005); Tessema Desalegn (2006-2010); Addisu Mengistu (2011-2015); Abraham Teka (2016-February 2017); Daniel Doyamo (March 2017-).⁴¹

Sources

East-Central Africa Division Executive Committee Meeting, February 6, 2017, ECD2017-002, Magadi Road, Ongata Rongai, Nairobi, Kenya.

Seventh-day Adventist Online Yearbook. Accessed June 30, 2020, https://www.adventistyearbook.org/SearchForm.aspx.

Woldeselassie, Tiruneh. Adventism in Ethiopia: The Incredible Saga of the Beginning and Progress of the Seventh-day Adventist Work in Ethiopia. n.p., 2005.

Notes

1. East-Central Africa Division Executive Committee Meeting, February 6, 2017, ECD2017-002.↩

2. Seventh-day Adventist Online Yearbook, “South Ethiopia Field,” accessed June 30, 2020, https://www.adventistyearbook.org/SearchForm.aspx.↩

3. Yosef Mella (retired worker), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, June 7, 2020.↩

4. Adera Abite (ordained pastor), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

5. Seventh-day Adventist Online Yearbook, “South Ethiopia Field,” accessed June 30, 2020, https://www.adventistyearbook.org/SearchForm.aspx.↩

6. Loana Dukamo (Communication and Publishing director, South East Field), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 2, 2018.↩

7. Truneh Woldeselassie, Adventism in Ethiopia: The Incredible Saga of the Beginning and Progress of the Seventh-day Adventist Work in Ethiopia (n.p., 2005), 378.↩

8. Ibid.↩

9. Yoseph Woldesilassie (son of Doda/Woldesilassie), interview by Abraham Teka, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 1, 2018.↩

10. Woldeselassie, Adventism in Ethiopia: The Incredible Saga of the Beginning and Progress of the Seventh-day Adventist Work in Ethiopia (n.p., 2005), 378, 379.↩

11. Ibid., 379.↩

12. Ibid., 379, 380.↩

13. Ibid., 380.↩

14. Yoseph Woldesilassie (son of Doda/Woldesilassie), interview by Abraham Teka, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 1, 2018.↩

15. Woldeselassie, Adventism in Ethiopia: The Incredible Saga of the Beginning and Progress of the Seventh-day Adventist Work in Ethiopia (n.p., 2005), 380.↩

16. Ibid.↩

17. Ibid., 380, 381.↩

18. Daniel Doyamo (president, South East Field), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 7, 2018.↩

19. Hagos Addisu (lay worker), Agaro Abite (retired gospel minister), and Daniel Uge (lay worker), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

20. Woldeselassie, Adventism in Ethiopia: The Incredible Saga of the Beginning and Progress of the Seventh-day Adventist Work in Ethiopia (n.p., 2005), 381.↩

21. Daniel Doyamo (a president, South East Field), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 7, 2018.↩

22. Seventh-day Adventist Online Yearbook, “South East Ethiopia Field,” accessed June 30, 2020, https://www.adventistyearbook.org/SearchForm.aspx.↩

23. Ayele Gelgele (Bore District/Zone pastor), interview by Abraham Teka, Bore, Ethiopia, March 4, 2018.↩

24. Hagos Addisu (lay worker), Agaro Abite (retired gospel minister), Daniel Uge (a lay worker), and Daniel Doyamo (president, South East Field), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

25. Abraham Kayuma (East Sidama District/Zone pastor), interview by Abraham Teka, Daye, Ethiopia, February 2, 2018.↩

26. Adera Abite (ordained pastor) and Loana Dukamo (Communication and Publishing director, SEF), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

27. Hagos Addisu (lay worker), Agaro Abite (retired gospel minister), Daniel Uge (lay worker) and Daniel Doyamo (president, South East Field), interview Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

28. Alemayehu Hayiso (North-Central Sidama District/Zone leader), interview by Abraham Teka, Derara, Ethiopia, May 20, 2018.↩

29. Agaro Abite (retired gospel minister) and Daniel Uge (lay worker), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

30. Agaro Abite (retired gospel minister), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

31. Agaro Abite (retired gospel minister), Adera Abite (ordained pastor), and Daniel Uge (lay person), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

32. Daniel Doyamo (president, South East Field), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 7, 2018.↩

33. Agaro Abite (retired gospel minister) and Daniel Uge (lay person), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

34. Hagos Addisu (lay worker), Agaro Abite (retired gospel minister), Daniel Uge (a lay worker), and Daniel Doyamo (a president, South East Field), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 9, 2018.↩

35. Degu Desta, (South Sidama District/Zone pastor), interview by Abraham Teka, Abosto, Ethiopia, April 13, 2018.↩

36. Boru Gelge (gospel minister), interview by Abraham Teka, Bule-Hora, Ethiopia, February 11, 2018.↩

37. Daniel Doyamo (president, South East Field), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 7, 2018.↩

38. Ibid.↩

39. Loana Dukamo (Communication and Publishing director, South East Field), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 1, 2018.↩

40. Woldeselassie, Adventism in Ethiopia: The Incredible Saga of the Beginning and Progress of the Seventh-day Adventist Work in Ethiopia (n.p., 2005), 381.↩

41. Daniel Doyamo (president, South East Field), interview by Abraham Teka, Hawassa, Ethiopia, May 7, 2018.↩