Description
In this message from our series To the Ends of the Earth, we reflect on the life of St. Frumentius of Axum, the Apostle to Ethiopia, and how God used an unexpected interruption to bring the Gospel to an entire nation.
St. Frumentius began as a young man with his own plans, but through captivity, service, faithfulness, and the hidden work of God, he became the one through whom Christianity was established in Ethiopia. His story reminds us that God often works through the parts of our lives that feel confusing, painful, or interrupted.
During the Apostles Fast, we are reminded that the Book of Acts is still continuing. We are Acts 29. God is still sending His people into the world, not only through preaching, but through faithfulness, love, sacrifice, and the willingness to see every place as a mission field.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to “To the Ends of the Earth”
00:33 St. Verina and the mission to Switzerland
01:09 Introducing St. Frumentius, Apostle to Ethiopia
01:39 We are Acts 29
02:12 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
03:43 The first seeds of faith in Ethiopia
04:21 God’s hidden work behind the scenes
04:52 Frumentius and his brother are taken captive
05:55 When God interrupts our plans
07:46 Your plan versus God’s bigger story
08:24 From captivity to the king’s court
09:37 Becoming God’s captive
10:36 Frumentius helps guide the kingdom
11:55 God interrupts Jonah, Joseph, Moses, and David
15:15 You cannot experience God without the journey
16:44 Trusting God when the story is unclear
17:20 Frumentius goes to St. Athanasius
18:56 Frumentius is ordained bishop of Ethiopia
19:30 Ethiopia becomes a Christian nation
20:06 Faithfulness before great mission
21:27 Your complaint may be your opportunity
23:25 Learning faith through challenge
24:04 God uses Mary Magdalene and the Samaritan Woman
25:41 Mission is not only speaking
26:23 Seeing Christ through a life of fasting and service
27:34 Searching for opportunities to witness
28:14 Flat tires and unexpected mission fields
29:41 Don’t wait for a title
30:50 Look for the opportunity to shine Christ
31:35 How many opportunities are we missing?
32:11 It is no longer I who live
33:16 St. Athanasius sends Frumentius to Ethiopia
34:34 What is your Ethiopia?
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Keywords:
St. Frumentius, Frumentius of Axum, Apostle to Ethiopia, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Coptic Orthodox sermon, To the Ends of the Earth, Apostles Fast, Acts 29, Ethiopian Eunuch, Philip the Deacon, St. Athanasius, Christian mission, Orthodox Christianity, Coptic missionaries, God interrupts our plans, faithfulness, Christian witness, mission field, Oriental Orthodox, Ethiopia Christianity