Port Elisabeth’s Christians Pleading EOTC for Attention

Hinry Simie 

“I was stabbed by members of the order of Ethiopia and was about to die. I then prayed for God to save me and I made a promise to serve him for life and he did save me. Form that day on, I am serving God with all may power”

These were the words of kes wolde sealssie Father Delisa Nelison Valisa of Port Elizabeth Madhanialem Church in Johannesburg. The long quest for a full membership of the EOTC by the South Africans is a spiritual struggle worthy of a hagiography.  

 
It was Manganeam Koni 1882 who first established a church with the name EOTC after he observed well the folly and sinful, ways of the colonialist so called Christian denominations, He was inspired by David who says, Ethiopia shall stretch her hands unto God. He made a call for other ministers like Duane, Namiately and others. In 1898, a woman from America told them of a Black church in America and misled these flocks of God to America’s Methodist Episcopal Church. They were soon swallowed like what a big fish does to a small one. Soon, a great leader rose amongst the people of port Elisabeth by the name Father Oba who really succeeded in fulfilling the dreams of his forefathers.

Father Oba’s first attempt to contact the mother church, the ETOC, was when he met an Armenian Orthodox priest and a lady from the EOTC in 1945 G.C. His correspondence was however with held by the South African Apartheid government Moreover, the Anglicans who controlled all churches in those days had infiltrated an insider in Father Oba’s group working in the post office. In 1983, Father Oba’s group separated legally from the Anglican Church. This was the first step to success. When Peter Fosh died in Jamaica, his funeral was conducted by Archbishop Estiphanos from the EOTC. This news captured the attention of all Father Obu’s group. They immediately corresponded with Abune Estephanos and were directed to Abune Isac, who was based in New York as EOTC’S. Archbishop in the western Hemisphere.  

In 1995 G.C, Archbishop Isac invited Father oba to New York. Then, there flocks of Christ were able to lay their agenda before His Grace. The agenda contained 3 main points. One, like the mother church matching them on equal bases Two, get assistance from the mother church by giving training young men from South Africa in the theological colleges and seminaries. The third point was for the head of the church to come to South Africa. Abune Isac directed them to Addis Ababa and finally, they were able to able to be in direct contact with the mother church after a century-old struggle, from 1882-2001. The white colonialists had always wanted to keep these folks of Christ away from the other Church, but, the wall fell apart in 2001. The whites have told them for many years that Ethiopia is just a poor country where the people always fight. Aba welde selassie had now seen that such a talk was far from the truth. He stated that Ethiopia is a country rich with Christian values and one of the first in the world to embrace it. (Work of Apostles 8:26) currently, the only drawback for them is the communication barrier and the father stressed the great need for preachers and books in English language. Moreover, they want their compatriots to be trained here. As a result of the insufficient attention, some of the souls are going back to the Anglican’s. There are now 40,000 parishers in port Elisabeth. Aba wolde selassie will be visiting different holy sites during his stay here.

      Praise be to God. Amen!!