Partners in Ethiopia: A Visit with the Goldbergs
Several weeks ago, my wife Laura and I traveled to Ethiopia to visit Justin & Joelle Goldberg and their three girls: Eliana, Mattea, and Avigail. The Goldberg’s are global partners sent by Highlands more than 12 years ago to serve with Wycliffe/SIL in Ethiopia, where they have been faithfully laboring to help bring God’s Word to people in their own language. The purpose of this visit was to provide encouragement to this dear family and to experience first-hand their family, community, and ministry.
Friendship Rekindled in Ethiopia
The Goldberg’s graciously opened their home to us, and we enjoyed many meals, conversations, and games together over the week-long visit. It was a joy to get to know this family better and to re-kindle our friendship which started when they were sent out by Highlands years ago. We are happy to see their girls growing up, and we celebrate the professions of faith through baptism made by their two oldest girls last year.
We were also blessed to spend time together worshipping with their church community, St. Matthew’s Anglican church, during Holy Week. We participated in a Passover Sedar meal, as well as Good Friday and Easter Services. Justin & Joelle are leaders in the music ministry, and it was wonderful to see them singing, playing instruments, and leading the congregation in worship. They even invited me to play guitar with them during Good Friday services!
Seeing the Ministry Firsthand
Finally, we were privileged to meet several of their SIL colleagues and see first-hand the vital translation work they have been engaged in for years. It was inspiring to see the team engaged in talking through and making important translation decisions in the book of Romans. It was also encouraging to see the friendship and Christlike care they live out towards their colleagues on a day-by-day basis.
We are grateful for the opportunity we had to spend time with the Goldberg family, and we are proud of their faith in Christ and their faithfulness to serve for more than 12 years with Wycliffe/SIL in Ethiopia. Through their work, they are faithfully living out one of our core Highlands’ values: Word-centered ministry. We are proud to be partners in ministry with this family! We invite you to give thanks to God for the Goldbergs and their service to the people of Ethiopia, and we invite you to pray for God to finish the good work He has started in them and through them!
In Christ,
Ben Menenberg
Executive Pastor