The following statement from The Great Controversy is a startling fulfillment of David’s prophecy: “Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God” (Psalm 68:31).

“The history of the churches of Ethiopia and Abyssinia is especially significant. Amid the gloom of the Dark Ages, the Christians of Central Africa were lost sight of and forgotten by the world, and for many centuries they enjoyed freedom in the exercise of their faith. But at last Rome learned of their existence, and the emperor of Abyssinia was soon beguiled into an acknowledgment of the pope as the vicar of Christ. Other concessions followed. An edict was issued forbidding the observance of the Sabbath under the severest penalties. But papal tyranny soon became a yoke so galling that the Abyssinians determined to break it from their necks. After a terrible struggle the Romanists were banished from their dominions, and the ancient faith was restored.”1

Ethiopia was one of the first nations to accept Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah and to embrace the Sabbath.

The first Adventist missionaries arrived in Ethiopia in 1907, and, in a short time, the Advent message spread all over the country.

In 1997, brethren Sileshi Tessama, Megale Degsew, and others called for a reformation in the church, as they saw that the organization was drifting away from the historic ways and original principles of Adventism.

As no agreement was reached, brother Sileshi Tessama and many others, besides a considerable number of Bible workers, and over three thousand members left the Adventist Church. For nine years they worked independently.

Then, in 2006, Brother Sileshi Tessama and over one thousand souls joined the International Missionary Society. They formed a Union Conference, and Brother Sileshi Tessama was elected president.

In July 2008, Brother Michael Stoyko and I were traveling in Africa and stopped in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia. There were contacted Brother Sileshi Tessama and other workers. Brother Stoyko proceeded to Congo while I remained in Ethiopia, where the Lord opened doors for me to present the reform message.

While I was there, I attended a camp meeting held by the brethren under the leadership of Brother Sileshi Tessama. They had selected a beautiful place - called Roma - in the south of the country. Our meeting with the Ethiopian brethren was a blessing. The door was opened to continue our fraternal communication.

In October 2008 I went to Angola to reorganize the three Fields of our Union Conference, but I did not forget the Ethiopian believers, with whom I stood in contact. And I received an invitation to see them again. Brother Sileshi Tessama, Brother Megale Degsew, and a number of Bible workers were waiting for my new visit.

On November 12, 2008, I was back in Addis Ababa to meet them.

After I had explained to them what they wanted to know, they asked to be fellowshipped into the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement.

In January 2009, Brother Davi Paes Silva, one of the vice presidents of the General Conference, visited the Ethiopian brethren. I was with him. We held spiritual meetings in two places - Durame and Bacafa. In Durame, January 23-26, the brethren also held a delegation session with 50 delegates representing 435 members. By the help of God, two Missions were organized on that occasion: the West Ethiopian Mission with 295 members and the East Ethiopian Mission with 140 members.

The work in Ethiopia is growing rapidly. Praise be to the Lord for the help He has extended to His people in that country! Now we can say after David: “Ethiopia has stretched out her hands unto God,” and God is blessing those who turn to Him wholeheartedly.