Connecting Ethiopia Mission Partners in Christ
 Home
2009 Ethiopia Mission Network Conference
April 23-25, 2009
Fremont Presbyterian Church
Sacramento, CA
website
Guest Speakers:  Yonas Dibissa Yigezu (Rev), Director, Mission & Theology, EECMY
Harold Kurtz, Senior Associate, Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship
EECMY Honors Mission Service
A highlight of the 2009 Ethiopia Mission Conference came after the Friday evening Ethiopian meal. The Rev. Yonas Yigezu, Director of Mission and Theology for the Ethiopia Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, made a presentation on behalf of the EECMY.  The Awards were actually presented during the EECMY Jublilee Celebration in 2008 in Addis Ababa. But two of the recipients were unable to attend the Jubliee.  Therefore, the presentations were made during the 2009 Ethiopia Mission Network Conference.

The Rev. Harold Kurtz received the Onessimus Award for church planting and for selfless service to the Ethiopian church during his years of mission service.

Joann Griffith was given the Soderquist Award for her years of faithfulness and leadership in service to the Ethiopian church.  Joann served as an English Teacher at the Bethel Evangelical Secondary School (BESS) in Dembi Dollo for manay years.

Rev. Yonas made these two awards before some 80+ people gathered for the Mission Network conference at the Fremont Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, CA.

Also receiving Distinguished Service Awards during the 2008 Jubliee in Addis Ababa were Breezy Lusted, PCUSA mission volunteer, who worked for more than 50 years in Ethiopia as a nurse and Bible translator in the Gambella areas, and to John and Gwen Haspels for their service in development and leadership with the Surma people of Ethiopia.