Serving Our PC In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
An update from Mark Prater, Executive Director of Sovereign Grace Churches…
As Sovereign Grace Churches expands globally, we see the need to establish strategic centers throughout the world that provide theological training to equip men for pastoral ministry and that can serve as a mission base from which we send pastors to plant new churches. Over the past 6 years, God has used the leadership of Michael Granger, Sr. Pastor of Trinity Fellowship, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Josh Pannell, Dean of the Trinity Fellowship Pastors College to establish a strategic center for Sovereign Grace on the continent of Africa. Since 2022, the Trinity Fellowship Pastors College has equipped and graduated 21 men (11 in 2022, and 10 in 2024), ordained 4 pastors (1 from Kenya, 3 from Ethiopia), planted a church in Nairobi, Kenya, and started a third PC class (2026).
I had the privilege of being in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 23-April 2, 2026, to teach two courses to our 2026 Trinity Fellowship Pastors College class, one on pneumatology, and one on continuationism. The class has 9 men from 3 different nations; 1 from Pakistan, 3 from Kenya, and 5 from Ethiopia. Because these men come from different church backgrounds, some Pentecostal, some Orthodox (Ethiopian Coptic), some cessationist, they had good questions regarding our pneumatology and continuationist convictions.
After every teaching session, we had good, even lively discussion that helped them fortify their theological convictions in these two important areas. The men in this class not only asked good theological questions, but they also asked good methodological questions especially as it relates to the use of the spiritual gifts in the local church. They wanted to know how the gifts could be used in a way that honors Scripture, serves the church, and brings glory to Christ. Their questions were answered, and again their convictions were solidified not only by our discussion, but through a time of ministry for them.
Four members of my church, Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA, joined me in Addis Ababa the weekend after I taught pneumatology, and before I taught continuationism giving us an opportunity to pray for each of the men in the class. They were not only encouraged, but they saw how the gifts can be used to serve others and glorify God. In other words, they saw our theological convictions put into practice in a way that removed skepticism, answered their questions, and built their faith. One of the married PC students told me that his wife was reluctant to come to the ministry time on Saturday because of some bad experiences from her Pentecostal past. As we prayed for this couple, she was in tears and later told her husband that she was not only encouraged, but she also wants to pursue her gifts to serve the church.
After spending two weeks with these 9 students, I found it hard to leave. I told them I would miss them, and I still do because I grew to appreciate and love these men for many reasons. They are sincere, godly men who want to be theologically and pastorally equipped to serve Christ and His church. They are also all younger men (everybody is younger than me these days!), and therefore, represent the future for Sovereign Grace in East Africa and beyond. After being with Michael Granger, Josh Pannell, recently ordained Ethiopian pastors (Amanuel Yehuwalashet and Yeabtsega Hailie), and the 9 Pastors College students, I flew home with great hope for our future because of the godly men who are devoted to advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ on the continent of Africa for the glory of God alone.
