Missionary Profile

Kifle Sheferawe

Evangelism/ Prayer
Addis Abeba, Ethiopia
Member Yehiwot Birhan Church

Speaks Amharic

When Kifle was younger he suffered from a severe sickness. This affliction caused Kifle to be unable to walk or care for himself in the most basic ways. Doctors were unable to find a treatment, so for four years Kifle suffered in this way. One day a believer came by to see Kifle and shared the gospel with him and then prayed for his healing. That day Kifle not only received physical healing but also faith in Christ Jesus. After his conversion, some of Kifle’s family and neighbors came to faith in Christ as well, but his father still remains very opposed to the gospel. This healing bore great testimony because Kifle’s family had tried everything they could. A great deal of money was spent on doctors and witchcraft with no results. Kifle said that the worst part was that “they were waiting on my death every day”.
In spite of the obvious work of the Lord, Kifle’s father despised the change that he saw in those who had become believers. Kifle’s father threw him out of their home before Kifle regained his strength and told him that he had to find his own place to live. Kifle still prays for his father’s salvation to this day.
A Christian family took Kifle in, and for the next few years he was living with different Christian families and growing in his walk with Christ. During this time he saw his fathers hard heart become even harder and all of the family suffered.
Kifle began doing ministry and was recognized by his local church as doing good work. Because of the financial difficulties in Ethiopia, they were unable to help with his practical needs. In November of 2002 Kifle became part of IOI and receives support so that he can do the ministry that he is called to without having to worry about his daily bread. Out of his support Kifle also supports his mother and family because his father is away for now and does not take care of his wife and children.
We recently received a letter from Kifle which was very encouraging. He said that the work in the church is going well and that he is seeing much fruit. The main difficulty is that he is practically unable to have any real relationship with his birth family. In this letter Kifle said that the family he now has with the other IOI missionaries and with his supporters is far greater than the blood family that he has lost. Kifle has never seen his supporters, but he has seen their tangible display of love to him, so he sees them as dear family members in Christ. What a joy to see the words of our Lord fulfilled as those who have lost mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters for the sake of Christ are given more in return.
Please pray for the blessings of the Lord on our brother’s work and that he might see his blood family become spiritual family.
By Stephen Kennedy
Missions Coordinator