THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS IN MATTHEW 25:14–30

BY ESAYAS EMENE ENICHA (REV.)

Foreword

Mafo, the model congregation in “Use Your Talents”

South West Synod (SWS) is one of 31 synods of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). The synod was established in March 1990. Currently, the synod has 750 congregations and 350 preaching centers.1 Mafo congregation is one of the congregations in SWS; we found a good model in Use Your Talents.

Mafo congregation is located in a high, mountainous, and badly degraded area. Population density is high, so farming land is very scarce. The livelihood of the people is under severe threat. 2 However, this congregation is working to enhance its internal economic capacity and to transform the economic, social, and spiritual situation of the community.

Mafo congregation voluntarily uses the talents of its members in three dimensions: for the economic enhancement of the congregation, for community support in their village, and to evangelize non-believers outside of their village.

1. For economic enhancement of the congregation, Mafo congregation uses its members’ talents on a voluntary base, and they have done remarkable activities. From income collected from members they constructed a cafeteria, opened shop for selling goods, constructed a bakery at the church compound, and established a furniture production machine in the town. They own six hectares of farming land, and the congregation member farmers plough the land and they have been producing barley, wheat, and apples. Currently, their capital is estimated to about $50,000. (This is a big amount for a congregation in a remote area whose members are mostly poor farmers). Below are some pictures from the income generating activities of the congregation.

2. For community support, Mafo congregation has built classrooms at their own expense for two governmental primary schools, namely, Zakota and Dertsele, and they conduct students’ tutorial education during every summer vacation