Click here to watch Pastor Elias comments on Adiamseged

My name is Pastor Elias, and I am coordinator of Central Zone Youth Ministry. I would like to say some words on what Christian youth ought to do in making themselves disciples and in developing the discipline of reading. The bible is the most important book for us Christians. It is our foundation. Speaking of the Bereans, Acts chapter 17, verse 11 says that they were “more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica because they received the word with all readiness and searched the scriptures daily to find out if these things were so”. In comparison with the Bereans, the people of Thessalonica were not fair-minded; they were not ready to search the scriptures while those in Berea searched the scriptures daily. People who search the scriptures will readily accept the word of God without any pressure. A reading generation cannot be easily carried away by false doctrines and backward views. In the UK, a country next only to the USA in reading, in a campaign the people devote more than twelve thousand hours to impart the habit of reading to their children. They have a slogan that goes, “Let them find you while you are reading”. They believe that a person who does not read books is guiltier than the one who burns them. Many things are a mystery to the person who doesn’t read. Reading is a lifelong project. So I would like to say that the youth should not waste their time in pursuit of useless fun. A person who does not read is easily fooled by false doctrines and wrong practices. I want to encourage the youth to improve their reading skill. Nowadays most Christians do not read. I want to share some thoughts on what to do to encourage the taste for reading. Historians say that Ethiopia is one of the countries that have the earliest literature and the culture of reading. Ancient Ethiopians practiced not only reading books for their literal meaning but also digging into their mystery and memorizing large portions of them. So we cannot say that there had been no culture of reading and critique. It is better to say that it has not grown. Reading has fallen out of fashion not only in the Christian community but also in the country as a whole. Nonetheless, as far as using reference books and developing the habit of reading is concerned, it is necessary to look back in order to create many readers in the church and in our country. We have to work especially on children and youth. If the youth do not read now while they are strong, they will have to beg others in their old age when their eyes grow dim and they are unable to make out letters on a page. They will regret it then. So it is important to encourage people to read during their youth and adulthood. Among nations that do not read, Arab countries are the least readers. A man reads only six pages a year. In the UK, a person is expected to read seven books a year. In the USA, a person is expected to read eleven books a year. The research has not been done in Ethiopia. But I want to take this occasion to highlight that reading is very important. I have heard that brother Adiamseged has written many books despite the pressures of living and family responsibility overseas. I have read his book on the epistle to the Ephesians. He is a man I want to admire. The bible says in Proverbs 19:3, “The foolishness of a man perverts his way”. But the way of the diligent shall be made straight. The diligent shall be a blessing to themselves and to others. Writing huge volumes of books amidst great pressures takes exceptional commitment. The apostle Paul has written thirteen books of the bible. He was not living a convenient life while writing the thirteen books. For example, five of his books were written from a prison cell. Our brother Adiamseged too has shown us that books could be written while the writer is in difficult situations. I believe Adiamseged has followed the example of Paul. Writing books while in a difficult situation calls for a great sacrifice. So Adiamseged is a man I want to admire. The book in my hand, which is on Ephesians, is a great tome of 448 pages or 460 including the bibliography. I have seen that the book is full of valuable lessons. He has toiled on it sacrificed a lot to write it. I understand the writing of this kind of book also requires great care. It has many references listed in the bibliography. So, reading just this one book is the same as reading many books. Personally, I have seen that this is a very important book. Finally, I would like to say a couple of words on how the youth ought to use this book. They can use it for personal study at home. I have heard that Adiamseged has also written about ten other books. This book can also be used in group studies. I want to encourage readers to use it also as a reference book. Again, it can also be used as a textbook. I want to say, may God bless our brother Adiamseged for writing a book in an Ethiopian language and in a style suitable for Ethiopian readers. Anybody can read and understand it. I have said earlier (and what I am saying bears repetition) I hold the writer in great esteem. Only readers write. I have seen that he is a reader. God bless him. Thank you.