Yesterday evening, the Yared Music School hosted a performance of the cantata No Greater Love, presented by the Filwoha SDA Church Joint Choir. The music hall was packed to capacity, with an estimated audience of 150 people or more, including many local music professionals and students who came to appreciate the choral work.
A Powerful Presentation of the Gospel
The concert itself was a nonstop 50 minute presentation, seamlessly blending music, live narrations, and a slide show depicting the life of Jesus. The program beautifully illustrated how God has spoken to humanity through different means across history, ultimately revealing Himself through His son Jesus Christ, who came to live, die, and resurrect. It brought the evening to a powerful close by reminding everyone that there is final victory for all who follow Him, because He has defeated death and given us eternal life.
Following the performance, the conductor, Zewdu Seblework, shared his joy, saying, “Praise the Lord! It was an excellent presentation.” He noted that the hall’s acoustics were excellent and added that the choir is already preparing and set to sing at other venues across Addis Ababa in the coming days.
Literature Distribution and Ministry Impact
Living Parchment Ministry (LPM) was present for the event, led by our Circulation Head, Lizibie Fentaw, and her team members, Israel Getachew and Isayas Denboba. Throughout the evening, the team shared a variety of spiritual resources with the attendees. The books distributed included Christ’s Object Lessons, Steps to Christ, The Desire of Ages, Preparation for the Final Days, and Giziew Magazine: America in Bible Prophecy, along with several tracts.
The books were received with genuine gratitude. One particularly encouraging moment occurred when a man approached Lizibie’s team to share his experience. He had received a copy of Christ’s Object Lessons at a previous concert and told the team how much the book had helped him, describing it as a life changing book. He was eager to take home additional books that evening to continue his study. Everyone who was offered these books gladly accepted them.
Recognition of Quality and Legacy
The musical performance itself left a strong impression. Many guests commented that they had never heard music of this quality before. The music professionals in attendance specifically noted the high level of discipline and effort shown by the choir, acknowledging the hard work and dedication required to perform such a piece.
Yeshumnesh Taye, the Vice Executive Dean of the Yared School of Music at Addis Ababa University, made an opening remark highlighting that the choir has a rich history spanning over forty years, close to fifty years, and has endured through generations. She noted that the choir did not stop when earlier generations passed; instead, newer members join each time to continue the legacy. She emphasized that it is not simply a choir that sings, but a highly disciplined and determined group dedicated to rigorous practice.
Supported by a Dedicated Community
This book outreach was made possible by the incredible generosity of the donors of Living Parchment Ministry. We give special praise to our donors because it is through their financial support that we are able to provide these books to the public for free. We also acknowledge Zebib Gebremariam and other supporters who wish to remain anonymous for their specific contributions to this distribution effort.
Observations on Strategic Outreach
Concerned church members approached the LPM media team to share their reflections regarding the reach of the event. They noted that the concert was not promoted as effectively as it should have been, which limited its potential to attract a wider audience. In particular, they expressed surprise that the event was not even advertised on the church’s own Telegram channel or other media outlets. Furthermore, the advertisement was handled late, with a promotional poster appearing only on the day of the event through a third-party Telegram channel completely unaffiliated with either the church or the music school.
These members expressed that such a high quality program is one of the most effective outreach methods available. One individual observed that the people in attendance were exactly the demographic that might not usually accept an invitation to a traditional church service. Because this event attracted a secular and professional audience, there was a strong consensus that the church and its media departments should have promoted it much earlier and more broadly to fully capitalize on the opportunity to share the gospel with the wider public.
It was a successful night of sharing both music and literature, leaving the team with much to reflect on as we look for ways to grow our ministry’s impact. We remain deeply grateful to the donors of Living Parchment Ministry, whose unwavering support makes this vital outreach possible.
Photography by Wubet Getachew
