The Ethiopian New Year begins on September 11. It is 2016 in the Ethiopian Calendar. We joke that Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations but 8 years younger than the rest.
As I was thinking about this New Year in our context, the word of God that came for the people of Israel through the Prophet Jeremiah came to my mind.
For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”(Jeremiah 29:11)
This is one of the most quoted verses of the Bible. God sent this message of hope while the people of Israel were in exile. God’s people were not in a good condition. Despite their condition, God told them that he had good things in store for them. God told them that He was in control of the situation.
In recent years, our country has been rocked by a series of ethnic-based and political violence. We lost several lives due to these conflicts. MKC grieves the loss of many Christian brothers and sisters including church leaders during the wars. We could not visit local churches to encourage them in some places due to security issues. There were many churches burned down and looted. Some of our church members were displaced and currently living in makeshift shelters without humanitarian aid.
Despite our gloomy conditions, we trust in God who can change things for good. We pray that God keeps His promise to heal the wounded hearts, restore our broken relationships, and change our future. As we start our New Year, let us fix our eyes on the almighty Lord who is in control of things.