1 September 2006

International Evangelical Church, Ethiopia

They come from all over the world: Asia, Europe, the Americas, the islands, and other African countries. On any Sunday at the International Evangelical Church (IEC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, you will see about 350 people from other African nations, about 200 from Europe and North America, about 50 from Asia, and about 1,000 Ethiopians, most of them well educated. Many of the members and regular attenders are quite transient, living in Ethiopia only for the duration of their diplomatic or business postings.

Addis Ababa is the diplomatic capital of Africa. There are more embassies there than in any city in the world besides New York, Washington DC or Geneva. This gives the IEC unparalleled evangelism opportunities among world leaders. Moreover, it can provide encouragement and spiritual discipleship for believers who face incredible pressures in their professional lives in government, aid agencies or diplomatic assignments.

It’s not typical for more than half of the congregation of an international church to be citizens of the host country. Ethiopia’s recent political history explains the unique make-up of the IEC. In 1974, when an increasingly Marxist government closed most Ethiopian churches, the “Gospel Chapel” (as it was then known) was allowed to remain open because of the diplomats who attended services. Ethiopians who could understand English flocked to the still-open IEC, and soon five services were required for the thousand or more worshipers. Since the fall of the Marxist government in 1991, the IEC became an independent autonomous church, and its growth continues. Bill Black leads the pastoral team and serves the English congregation. Ginny Holt, an SIM missionary, is the Director of Worship. David Khondi-yi-Longo Ndembe, an SIM affiliate from the Democratic Republic of Congo, serves a French congregation made up primarily of West African diplomats. David Chon, a Korean SIM missionary leads the Korean-language congregation. The French and Korean groups each attract between 50 and 80 worshipers every Sunday.

The International Evangelical Church urgently needs Christians with a heart for reaching internationals to come and help lead its diverse ministries. This is not an easy task for Ethiopian Christians who don’t have a personal background in international living. Yet Ethiopian law does not allow the church to pay a salary to non-Ethiopians. As a result, we are praying that God will call and send workers from outside the country—from anywhere—as self-supporting missionaries. (Information was provided by Stephanie Black, wife of the senior pastor.)

Read more engaging accounts of recent outreach events at the IEC

Khartoum International Church, Sudan

By Darrell Welling, former pastor

SIM started a Chapel in Khartoum, Sudan, during World War II to minister to British military personnel stationed in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Later the Chapel became a meeting place for other nationalities, many of them second-generation families living in the city: Armenians, Greeks, Egyptian Coptics, and other speakers of English. Many Egyptian Coptic young people had come to faith through our youth ministry and were now married with children and looking for an evangelical church. The Chapel was at first a "preaching point," with no membership or organization. In 1985 SIM approved the formation of a church and Khartoum International Church was established with elected leaders and a constitution, and I became the pastor (since retired). As attendance grew, we knocked down a wall so people could also sit in the parking lot.

Karima, Jennifer, David and Hilary were part of the Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, where they learned to love Jesus. Later they were active in the youth group. On Easter Sunday, April 2006, all four of those young internationals were baptized in the Nile River. We believe these young people will be powerful witnesses for Christ as they continue to mature in Him.

At one service we counted people from 27 different nationalities—teachers, doctors, university students, workers with Christian organizations, business people, aid workers and United Nations representatives. In January 2007, Fairlie and Milanthi Sim, from SIM New Zealand, plan to begin their ministry of pastoral leadership for the Khartoum International Church.

Cochabamba International Church, Bolivia

by Graham Porter, administrative pastor

Juan (not his real name) came to the Cochabamba International Church (CIC) the second or third Sunday after the church first opened its doors on Easter Sunday 2001. A bitter man, he refused to go inside; he was there only to escort his step-sister who was visiting from the United States and wanted to attend an English church service. Juan grew up in a Christian home, but many years ago he left his Christian roots and got involved with various deviant behaviors including alcohol and the emerging homosexual community in Cochabamba. He hit bottom when he was imprisoned for more than two years. After his release from prison, he married, but soon returned to his former sinful lifestyle which he continued for more than 20 years. And now, on that Sunday in 2001, I was talking with him outside the building. The next Sunday was the same. On his third visit, Juan came inside. Over a period of three years I would get a call at any hour of the night. Juan needed help. He was drunk. He had been beaten up.

Today Juan holds a responsible job with a travel agency; his fluent English opens many doors for him. He is a leader of the Rotary Club in Cochabamba. And he is an unofficial member of a group of CIC leaders, who often look to him for wise advice. He has invited more people to the church than any other attendee. Does Juan still have problems? Yes! Is God working in his life? Oh, yes! Our God is faithful and works wonders in individuals whom others have rejected.

The five-year-old Cochabamba International Church now attracts more than 200 worshipers every Sunday. The women’s ministry hosts outreach teas and coordinates major drama productions. There’s an outreach to university students and young married couples. A weekly small group ministry serves both Spanish and English speakers. Up to 60 teens attend the weekly International Youth Group. Missions is a primary focus of the CIC. The congregation is involved in local ministries, and many of the youth go on short-term missions. Gerry Johnson serves as senior pastor, and three SIM couples are serving in leadership at the church.