Featured Story

One of the most meaningful moments in this past year was the creation of Ismael, a children’s storybook written specifically for children in the Afar region. For the first time, children were able to see characters, environments, and stories that reflected their own culture while gently pointing them to the love of Jesus. This book became a bridge — helping children encounter the Gospel through a story they could truly relate to.

Alongside this, I also had the privilege of collaborating with Christine, our Horn of Africa Team Leader. I assisted her in writing Tsega, another children's book, while also authoring Ismael. These two books are currently the only contextualized children’s storybooks created specifically for the Afar and Somali regions of Ethiopia, serving as bridges to the Gospel for unreached children.

Seeing children engage with these stories has been a powerful reminder that when the Gospel is shared in ways children understand, hearts open. These moments continue to confirm God’s calling on this ministry: to remove barriers and let children come to Jesus through stories, creativity, and culturally relevant media.