The Youth Evangelical Fellowship (YEF) members from Ethiopia and Kenya united in the spirit of Christmas by attending retreats hosted in their respective countries. These gatherings provided a time of spiritual enrichment and fellowship, focusing on deepening faith and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
Retreat in Kenya
Brother Selemon and Sister Mary joined the retreat hosted by the YEF Kenya chapter. Participants engaged in worship, teaching, and reflections on their Christian journey.
Brother Selemon shared the Word of God with the theme of “Salvation.” He emphasized the total depravity of mankind, referencing Romans chapters 1 and 2, which highlight humanity’s sinfulness and need for redemption. He concluded by underscoring the path to salvation through faith alone, drawing from key passages in the New Testament.
Sister Mary reflected on her time at the retreat, offering profound insights:
“When we face challenges, we should pray like Jesus did. We should have faith in God as John 3:15 assures us that everyone who believes will have eternal life. We should pray for the Holy Spirit as Jesus said the Holy Spirit will be our helper. The Holy Spirit will guide us. John 14:18 talks about how Jesus will not leave us as orphans but will send the Holy Spirit.
We should love God with all our hearts. In Matthew 26:6, a woman offered Jesus some very expensive perfume to show love even though the perfume could have been sold and money given to the poor. We need Jesus in our life. Acts 4:11 says that Jesus is the cornerstone. We should be humble like Christ. In Luke 2:8-14, Jesus, the Son of God, was born in a manger. We should cleanse ourselves and avoid living a sinful life. In Revelation 22:14, the robe represents righteousness. Revelation 19:8 talks of how we should clean our robes which means we should sanctify ourselves.”
Sister Mary expressed gratitude for the opportunity to fellowship with other believers and prayed that the spiritual seed planted during the retreat would flourish in her life.
Retreat in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, YEF members participated in a retreat held by the Hawassa Emmanuel Church. Brothers Samuel Kifle and Aklilu Data shared their reflections from this meaningful time of worship and learning.
Brother Samuel:
“In this retreat time, we meditated on Luke 2, which describes the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth. Though He is the King of Kings, He was born in a manger, and His birth was first announced to shepherds, who were considered lowly in society. This demonstrates that Jesus came to serve, not to be served, and to offer salvation to all.
Just as the woman in the alabaster jar story poured out something precious, we are called to pour out our lives—just as Christ did for us—in surrender and worship to God. True worship is not just about material offerings but about dedicating our entire being—our time, talents, and treasures—to honor Him. The scene of the alabaster jar reminded me that true worship is costly, but nothing is too great to give to the One who gave His life for us.
This retreat encouraged me to see trials not as obstacles but as opportunities to grow spiritually and deepen our faith.”
Brother Aklilu:
“First of all, I want to praise Almighty God for the precious time that we had. Christ offered Himself for us in humility. The most important thing that Jews missed is that they didn’t understand God’s heart. It was difficult for them to accept Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah because they didn’t expect their king would come in such a humble manner.
God can do great things, even save lives in His way that may seem foolish from a worldly perspective. But as followers of Christ, we should follow His footsteps and make ourselves humble, just as Christ came in a humble way. He teaches us the way to be humble with His birth, and in humility, He is now the name that is above every name. Amen.”
A Season of Gratitude and Spiritual Growth
The Christmas retreats in Kenya and Ethiopia served as a reminder of the true essence of the season—humility, worship, and faith. Through shared prayers, teachings, and fellowship, YEF members experienced renewed strength in their walk with Christ and were inspired to live out their faith with greater conviction.
As the members return to their communities, they carry with them the lessons learned and the hope of bearing fruit for God’s kingdom.
