As much as I enjoyed visiting places, my trip to Hawassa, Ethiopia, wasn’t for the hotel or the coffee or even the flight reviews…it was to fellowship with pastors and help equip them to better lead their churches. As invariably happens on these ministry trips, I was immensely encouraged and heartened by the faith and dedication of these ministers and learned quite a bit myself.
Over several days, my team presented several topics on biblical hermeneutics and pastoral care. The Bible can be a frustrating codex and has been the source of great debate over its meaning and how to correctly interpret it. Ultimately, this matters. For Christians, understanding the Bible is essential to understanding God Himself.
This wasn’t evangelizing those who were not Christians but helping those who are Christians in a place where resources we take for granted (like internet, commentaries, and other books) are much scarcer. It was a precious time becuase, as I saw in Kenya and South Africa too, these dear men are doing the best they have to lead others, most while working full-time jobs.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
