LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 120

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your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found
to result in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6–7)
According to Peter, suffering refines faith as gold is
refined by fire. It increases the vitality of faith.
Fourth, the experience of persecution transformed
the ministry of the church. The closing down of
congregations and the stopping of public worship by
government order forced the church to operate underground, where small groups of people gathered
for worship. This unique practice of ministry, born in
the midst of suffering in those days, continued effectively and is still in operation. As a result, today most
members of church are structured into small groups.
Small-group or cell-group ministry was a new experience the church explored during this horrible time.
The development of small-group services contributed
to the multiplication of membership. It enhanced the
growth of the church in two aspects. First, it enhanced
the numerical growth of the church as it provided
better access to family members and other unchurched
people. Because these small groups were in the community, they were close to individuals interested in the
program. Second, it enhanced the qualitative growth
of the church because it provided the best forum for
nurturing the faith through Bible studies and people
giving their Christian testimony. It also developed
strong mutuality as it encouraged members to share
one another’s burdens through prayer.
Fifth, the persecution introduced its victims to miraculous signs and wonders. During the time of persecution, events occurred that had no natural explanation.
Under torture, courageous Christians bore witness and
stood firm in the face of their adversaries. To stay firm
in the confession under threat of death is a miracle and
a gift of God. At times, the bold witness of these Christians during their trials led their tormentors to Christ.
Some victims were tortured to the point of death, and
yet they lived, even when medical science said they
could not recover or were doomed to die. These people
were healed through the prayers of the church and
lived to continue to share the Gospel. All these testi12

Launhart, 246. “One day an armed cadre entered the room of the prisoners and
asked for a girl called Gennet. Since two girls among the detained had that name,
both were taken out of the room. At first the younger Gennet was cross-examined,
threatened, and beaten. When the cadre failed to get the answers he was expecting,
he took his pistol, drilled it into Gennet’s acoustic duct and deafened her. Next

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U P O N T H I S R O C K • Essay

monies demonstrate the secret of rejoicing in suffering. James affirms this in writing to saints undergoing
their own test of faith:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet
trials of various kinds, for you know that the
testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking in
nothing. (James 1:2–4)
This was the secret that turned things upside down in
the EECMY and resulted in great victory—all in the
midst of severe suffering.
The Joy in the Experience of His (the Lord’s) Glory
Another joy is our joy in the glory of the Lord. This
was our experience following our suffering. As a result,
today the EECMY rejoices in this special privilege of
celebrating the glory of the Lord.
The EECMY, established in the late 1950s after a
century of mission work by Western missionaries,
has skyrocketed in growth from 20,000 baptized
members to 7.8 million members. It is organized into
8,500 congregations and 4,000-plus preaching places (mission stations). This incredible growth from
20,000 to 7.8 million members in a relatively short
time is further proof of the strength of the foundation
on which the church stands and the mighty power
working within the church.
The history of the EECMY after the downfall of
Ethiopia’s Communist government has been a history of great success and achievement. The governmental downfall was the moment when the power
and authority Jesus granted to His Church became
clearly and publicly displayed—when the closeddown churches resumed their public worship and the
formerly confiscated properties of the church were
returned.
In the aftermath of the downfall of this evil government, the church held high the keys of heaven
Gennet Leul Seged was interrogated. She was stripped of her clothes, thrown to
the ground and beaten. When these measures did not work, one of the most cruel
torturing methods, called wofei lala, was applied. Gennet Leul Seged claims that
she felt, consciously, only the first hard blow on her feet. Then she experienced that
even in this situation Christ was close to her. After two months of imprisonment
and harassment, the Bethel youth group was released. None of them had given
up their faith. The two girls called Gennet, however, were badly injured. They saw
many doctors but without success. Finally, the hearing of the younger Gennet was
restored while a Bethel youth group prayed for her, and Gennet Leul Seged’s leg was
restored to health during a prayer meeting in the Bole Meserete Kristos Church, on
21 December 1978.”

“Rejoice—The Church Is Built on the Rock”