14/09/2026
Bring Your Friend
By Memhire Memhiran Betsha Alemu
(A True Encounter)
Sorrow and joy, mingled with deep regret,
Have made my soul like fava beans simmering in a pot.
On the morning of Nehase 4, 2018 E.C., a friend called me during a program gathering 15,000 books and said, "If it is convenient for you, let me introduce you to a special person." I replied, "Alright, wonderful! If it is someone who can benefit our ministry, saving souls is our constant mission." He told me he was coming from 4 Kilo, so we set our appointment at Se'alite Mihret. I made my way from the CMC area where I was towards Se'alite Mihret. During this short journey, I climbed up and down the ladder of my thoughts, I was wondering, 'Out of the fifteen thousand books we need, how much might this benefactor donate?”
After we met, we exchanged warm spiritual greetings and took the elevator up to the fifth floor. When we arrived, his wife had recently given birth and was being cared for. This guest was a venerable priest, richly endowed with grace, whose face radiated light. His name is Liqe Tiguhan Qesis Be'ede Maryam. Welcoming me with warm hospitality, he drew a cross from beneath his sweater and invited me to venerate it. Deeply moved, I venerated the cross, prostrated myself, and kissed his knees, giving him the honor due to him. We then sat down together and had the opportunity to speak at length.
Grace Inherited from the Fathers
After exchanging greetings and inquiring about each other's well-being, I asked him, "How is your ministry going?" He shared that his service was flourishing and gave thanks to God. I then asked, "How did you study and attain the rank of priesthood?" He shared his life journey with me as follows:
"My father was a priest. After I had begun my education under him, he passed away while I was still a child. Then His Grace Abune Zakarias took me in and raised me, teaching me as both a father and a spiritual teacher. When this father returned to his homeland, His Grace Abune Petros (PhD) filled the role of father and teacher in his place. Through the teachings and counsel of these two spiritual fathers, I reached this priestly rank."
The priest is African American, and the priestly heritage he received from his father became, through the grace of our merciful God, a gift entrusted to him. He is an exceptionally humble and gentle priest who does not even know what malice is. If you ask how I came to understand this, it is because, through his words, I saw how deeply he cares for the salvation of every human soul.
His story is truly astonishing. When I asked him, "When and how did your community come to Christianity?" he told me the history of his spiritual roots:
"When Emperor Haile Selassie went to Jamaica, it began to rain, and the people, saying, "This is the King's blessing," began to worship the Emperor as God. At that time, Emperor Haile Selassie sent His Grace Abune Yisihak, instructing him to teach them: 'You must worship my God, not me.' It was at that moment that my mother and father immediately believed. Then my whole family and my people believed and were baptized. My father also studied and became a priest. Although I have many brothers in our family, I am the only one after my father who became a priest."
Seven Churches and a Solitary Ministry
Through the diligence of Liqe Tiguhan Qesis Bede Maryam and other fathers, the single church that existed during his father's time has expanded to seven. In those churches, he has assisted the faithful by teaching in the English language. However, my heart was touched with grief when he told me that these churches, which serve Black Americans, suffer from a shortage of servants. I saw the words written in the Gospel, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37) take on flesh and stand before me in reality.
Because our father Liqe Tiguhan Qesis Be'ede Maryam travels between the seven churches and serves for long hours on his feet, both of his legs have become severely affected by the strain. When he went to the hospital, the doctors told him, "This can only be healed by operating on your legs one after the other, and for this, you will need to be hospitalized and treated for nine months."
Yet he shared with me that he endures his pain and continues his ministry even now, saying, "If I lie in a hospital bed for nine months, who will celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the faithful? Won't the churches be closed?" Hearing this, the word of the Gospel unfolded before my eyes:
"The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." John 10:11
For this father has surrendered his own health for the well-being of his flock.
He conducts his ministry in the English language, but there is a shortage of ministers. Although a few other servants are present, his absence leaves a noticeable gap in the service. Reflecting on the shortage of ministers they face, I felt deep sorrow. Being careful not to pass my grief on to him, I expressed my profound joy regarding the ministry he provides.
An International Vision and the Priest’s Hope
After this, I began explaining my own ministry to him: "I am currently teaching sacred scriptures in Debre Tabor, South Gondar, where I have about 80 disciples. Through the participation of the faithful, I have completed the construction of a Bete Gubae—a traditional center for Orthodox learning and study."
I then shared with him the grand vision that brought me to meet him:
"Now, I have launched an International Scholarship Program. So far, we have received and taught 29 disciples who speak 21 languages from various regions of Ethiopia. We have brought them to the rank of priesthood, and there are students who have returned to their respective areas to teach in their mother tongues, baptizing thousands of people. As the Apostle Saint Paul said:
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:14
Teaching through these students in their respective native languages is bringing many souls closer to our beloved Christ. Looking ahead, we have a 5-year construction plan to build a school that will provide educational opportunities for students from all parts of the world."
As I spoke, the great apostolic commission burned within me:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." Matthew 28:19
He was overjoyed and deeply amazed.
However, he raised a question: "How will you teach them? Students from other parts of the world require many facilities; they are accustomed to a different lifestyle." Keeping that in mind, I explained to him that we had incorporated all necessary amenities into the building design—including recreational areas, heating, and air conditioning and that we would strive, as much as possible, to provide the foods they are accustomed to in their homelands. I explained that none of this currently has an allocated budget, but would be built through beneficent believers whose hearts God moves.
At that moment, his face brightened with joy. "If God wills and I can send students for you to teach, then I can also undergo my medical treatment. Finding someone who thinks like this makes today a truly blessed day!
he said.
When he said this, I remembered how our Lord looked at Nathanael and said:
"Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" John 1:47
My heart was compelled to say of him, "Behold, a true Christian indeed, in whom there is no guile!" though I did not utter it aloud.
Until now, whenever I thought about constructing the building, I spoke only in estimates about where I would get the students to teach. But now that I had directly met the very people for whom we are doing this work, my joy knew no bounds. However, when he asked me again how long it would take to finish the building, and I answered, "It is a 5-year plan," I realized that although I had mentioned it earlier, his eager anticipation had made him ask again.
When he said to me, "Oh... if it takes five years, that is too late. I wanted to send one student from each of the seven churches who is ready and willing to learn right now. But if it is delayed up to five years, they may pass the age at which they are ready to learn, and their desires may change. "If only it could happen now, I could send them, have them trained, and quickly get my medical treatment." Hearing this, my heart broke. "If only it could be done now, how blessed we would be," I said in my heart. But I could not do it, for the foundation of the building was barely being raised.
A Blessed Womb and an Unexpected Gift
Unable to contain the joy I felt, after repeatedly expressing, "I am so glad to have met you," something came to my mind. I turned to his honorable wife and said, "My sister, you are blessed! First, because you prepared and kept yourself to be a priest’s wife; second, because, by bringing such a dark-skinned angel into our midst, you have made this a day on which a great foundation has been laid for the Ethiopian Church to flourish throughout the world. And this happened because of you. The Church thanks you, and I thank you in my humble capacity."
I also thanked her mother, who had come to care for her after childbirth, saying, "You too are truly blessed to have a daughter who brings such a good man into our lives. This womb is blessed, for it has produced for us a daughter who crosses rivers to bring others across."
In the midst of this, the priest’s brother-in-law interjected, "You know, my sister loves your books very much. Wait, let me bring them." He picked out my works from among the books lined up on the shelf, brought them over, and said, "Here, sign them." I signed them for her. I felt immense joy seeing my book in the hands of a good reader and a thoughtful family.
After this, we stood up, and I venerated his cross once more. We took a family photograph and spoke about remaining as one family going forward. As we were about to part, I told him, "I have started a new initiative." "What is it?" he asked. I told him that I had begun giving online instruction to 26 fathers throughout the world who were prepared to study the sacred scriptures, and that I had intended for these fathers to learn about this scholarship program so they could send their children to us. These 26 scholars are Ethiopian scholars living in other parts of the world. "But today, without needing them, I met you directly," I said, expressing my happiness.
He asked me, "Under what circumstances can I become part of that opportunity?" Since we were communicating through an interpreter, I said, "When God created your appearance, He gave you the face of Ethiopia; you are dark-skinned. Now, if you would learn Amharic, the language of Ethiopia, I could teach you directly; if not, we will find a way." We kissed each other in love and parted. Indeed, we parted in body, but in heart, we could never be separated.
An Inner Struggle with Medhanealem (Savior of the World)
On my way back, I entered into a deep inner struggle. “When will I see the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church become accessible throughout the world? When will these souls, who cry out asking, 'When will we receive the blessings of the Ethiopian Church?’ find rest? How can our institutions build and work with the whole world in mind?"
As I weighed these thoughts back and forth, my mind found no answer. No! My conflict was not with myself; I decided to confront the Master Himself. I began an inner wrestling in prayer with Medhanealem:
"O my merciful Savior, Medhanealem... why do You keep bringing and showing me only those who are so deeply broken and wounded? At one time, I found an infant girl lying abandoned on the street, at a time when I had no capacity to raise her … even though I wished to, she was taken from me. Whenever I think of her, I live in constant sorrow.
When I went to Germany, in a world consumed by globalization and modernity, I saw my compatriots who had forgotten their ancient heritage and were wandering lost in secularism. You made me see them struggle desperately to raise their children in the faith, finding nothing to anchor them.
Then I went to Sweden; fathers labor, mothers labor, priests exhaust themselves... yet because there is no generational work that shapes and holds the youth according to their measure, I saw all their efforts bearing no fruit.
Worse still, I went to Turkey; that holy city where the three Great Ecumenical Councils were held, where great church fathers and scholars flourished since the time of the Apostles—I saw it with my own eyes, seemingly without a visible sign of Christianity.
And now, at a time when I am completely helpless to act, why have You brought me to see such a longing soul, a soul hungering for You?"
Lord, I am like a man standing deep in a ravine, trying to throw a stone to the very top of a mountain. Those standing at the mountain top have power; they can throw far. But they are far from seeing the deep ravine where I stand. And as for me, I cannot throw upward forcefully enough to reach the mountain peak. When, then, will those who throw from the mountaintop look down into the ravine where I am? And when will You send Your friend?
To complete the construction of this international institution, 72 million Ethiopian Birr (approximately $500,000) is required. As the Prophet Haggai declared:
" Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored." Haggai 1:8
I longed for people who would offer their goodwill for the construction of this great spiritual institution.
To serve the Church of God, which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28), how can I fail to find 5 individuals who would each give one hundred thousand dollars to help serve those whom You purchased with Your blood? If You give me these people, it means that souls throughout the world who seek You will be taught and saved.
I tried to explain this to You as if You did not know, didn't I, my merciful Medhanealem?... Forgive me! It is only because my anguish overwhelmed me!
In Search of Five Friends
Many people do not look at the generator; they spend their whole day screwing and unscrewing the light bulb. If the generator were working properly, lighting the bulb would be effortless. They waste all their strength on the light bulb, never turning to look at the generator, which is the very source of the light. When will we be able to carry out the foundational work—the generator—that can truly make us fruitful? Could not a single wealthy person in Ethiopia, let alone those abroad, cover this 72 million Birr? Then who will connect me? This is why I said, "I throw my stone from the deep ravine toward the mountain.
Praying, "O Medhanealem, please bring Your friend, so that we may build this house and save the people You died for," I returned home. Because I had met the priest at Se'alite Mihret St. Kidane Mihret Church, I also implored Our Lady, the Holy Virgin Mary:
"O Merciful Intercessor, please bring Your friend. Souls in many parts of the world groan in longing for the divinity of Your Son, the God by nature, and for the grace of your being the Mother of God. May it be Your will that Your friend builds this house, so that we may give rest to those groaning souls and prepare a haven for them."
This is the prayer and cry of my conscience. What do you say? Come! Let us work together as one! Let us spread the one true Faith throughout the entire world. Let us arise together, declaring:
"The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build." Nehemiah 2:20
This is the heartfelt thought and desire that I wish to share with you. To sum up my thoughts, I invite you to receive these lines of poetry:
As I toil and strive to clothe myself in clouds, to scoop up the wind, to swallow fire,
I long to see my dream come true as darkness is lifted, the dawn breaks through, and night gives way to morning.
May the peace of the Most High God be with us all!
