Page 106 - Then Came the Glory

Then Came the Glory
Development, he laid a claim against the city stating that the church is the legal property of the Apostolic church and
should be restored to the believers. They won the case in court; the decision standing even against an appeal from the city council of Awassa. Those men tried in vain to kill Ashenafi, but we regained possession of our church in 1990.
The recording angel has written the names of godly
men who contributed to the widespread of the Gospel in
Sidamo, the province where the greatest Jesus Name revival ever known is happening. Names that sound strange to
American ears, but are well-known to our sovereign God;
Legesse Lankamo, Samuel Godadmo, Worku Berede, Tadesse Doyamo, Dawitt lya, Eyob Buie, Gebresillassie
Mantesso, Paulos Wajego and Mekuria Merso. These men endured hardships and prison for the name of Jesus, but tasted His strength and rejoiced in His mercy through it all.
When physical difficulties slackened, they faced a more subtle temptation as other churches tried to buy their
services; however, with good understanding of the wiles of the enemy and the Word, they lifted high the banner of truth and remained faithful. Most of them still serve as leaders
today.
Because Sidamo is a densely populated area, God led
Tekle and his board to lay down strict rules for establishing churches. If any believers had to walk more than a half hour to get to church, a branch work must be opened. Some of the pastors did not like this rule at first, (fearing to lose members and tithes) but it has provided a rapidly advancing outreach. The pastors would open branch churches half an hour's walk away on either side and assign capable assistants to take charge, giving them half of the tithes for the first year until they had proven themselves. With the people's
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