We have had the privilege of ministering to these precious Ethiopian Jewish people for more than a decade. The Jewish community in Ethiopia goes back for millenia. Today this community is impoverished, underserved and persecuted. A working person might earn 30-50 dollars a month, barely enough to survive. We worked with the traditional Jewish community and the Messianic community, providing needed emergency food to those most in danger of starvation. We are currently helping to sustain 125 Jewish families on a monthly basis. We have also been able to provide the needed materials for 125 children to attend school. Most of these children are in families which could not afford to attend school. These children would end up on the streets begging, or worse. Education of these children can help to break the cycle of poverty. We have also begun job training and micro finance programs. Our first graduating class produced the 250 shirts needed by these children to attend school. Now on top of all the other problems in this needy country, there is a terrible civil war. Thousands have died and millions are in danger of starvation. In addition, the civil war has caused inflation to soar, which affects everyone. More than ever, we need to be praying for the Jewish people in Ethiopia. I feel so strongly that our efforts in Ethiopia must increase, in spite of the problems we are facing. Pray for an end to this terrible war. Pray that the L-rd will provide the workers and the funds for us to increase our efforts in the Jewish community of Ethiopia.
It is hard to really estimate how many Jewish people remain in Ethiopia. Israel has relocated tens of thousands, but there are still many thousands more. Over the years we have undertaken many projects in this very needy country. We opened a chicken farm which put about a dozen men to work and enabled them to provide for their families. We began a micro-finance and job training program. Local Jewish people were given basic business training. We then purchased the material needed for them to begin their business. They signed an agreement to pay back the loan, enabling others to receive loans. About 45 families have so far been touched by this project. Now to enable us to work more effectively we have established an NGO, a Non-Governmental Organization, (like a 501(c)(3) organization in America). The first project of Children of Jacob in Ethiopia will be to send needy Jewish children to school. To break the cycle of poverty we must begin with the children. We will then look at putting more funds into the job training and micro-finance operations. In 2011 we took a health care team and held a medical clinic in the Jewish community of Kechene in the capital of Addis Ababa. In one week, we were able to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of about 7,000 of these precious Jewish people. Many of those we treated accepted Messiah as well! We have also worked with the Messianic synagogue, helping them with their congregational needs and providing a new sound system as well as teaching and training leadership. We have also taught in the Addis Ababa Bible College for many years. Teaching classes such as Judaism 101 to the future leaders of the church in Ethiopia. It is important to educate these future leaders as to their responsibility towards the Jewish people.
The Ethiopian government has awarded Children of Jacob, three times for their continuing efforts in this community.
