UOEC Successfully Concludes Its 31st Annual Council Meeting in Atlanta 

   The United Oromo Evangelical Churches (UOEC) successfully held its 31st Annual Council Meeting from July 16–18, 2026, hosted by the Oromo Evangelical Church of Atlanta (OECA) in Atlanta, Georgia. Representatives from member churches across North America gathered for three days of worship, fellowship, prayer, and deliberation on matters impacting the mission and future of UOEC.

   The Council opened with a moment of remembrance, honoring the lives and faithful ministries of Rev. Shemsuddin Abdo, one of the founding leaders of UOEC, and Rev. Magarsa Bekele Gibe, who faithfully served as an Associate Pastor of Ebenezer Oromo Evangelical Church in Minneapolis and as a member of the UOEC Election Committee. The Council expressed gratitude to God for their enduring legacy and prayed for their families and the churches they served.

    The Council also received a presentation from Dr. Robera Battal summarizing the findings of the "Reimagining UOEC" workshop held during the UOEC Pastors' Consultation in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (March 19–21, 2026). Delegates engaged in thoughtful discussion of the SWOT analysis and explored strategic priorities for strengthening UOEC's future ministry and organizational effectiveness.

    During the meeting, delegates reviewed a broad range of ministry and organizational matters. The Council received the FY2026 ministry activity report from UOEC Board Secretary, Rev. Wasihun Gutema, and the FY2026 financial report, including a comparative review of the last four fiscal years, presented by UOEC Board Treasurer, Mr. Ebasa Mekonnen Amesu. The reports reflected God's faithfulness and the continued growth and stewardship of the fellowship.

 The Council also received ministry updates from several UOEC ministries and partners. The Global Christians in Action (GCA) ministry presented its accomplishments, challenges, and Action Plan for FY2027. The Council unanimously endorsed GCA's partnership with Project C.U.R.E. to ship urgently needed medical supplies to Yabello, Borena, Ethiopia, and member churches pledged support toward the $38,000 transportation cost required for the shipment.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on the future of the Second Generation Ministry. The Council carefully reviewed the report of the task force established during the 30th Council Meeting and engaged in thoughtful discussions regarding strategies to strengthen ministry among Oromo youth and young adults across North America.

The Council also welcomed encouraging reports from ministry partners. The Fellowship of Oromo Christian University Students (FOCUS) shared inspiring updates about its evangelistic outreach, which is currently impacting more than 30,000 university students across Ethiopia. The Council praised God for this remarkable ministry and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the spread of the Gospel among university students. In addition, the Council also reviewed the ongoing ministry of the Oromo Bible Society (OBiS), recognizing UOEC's foundational role and significant financial contributions—covering more than 85% of the costs for two rounds of Afaan Oromo Bible printing. While celebrating the ministry's impact, the Council expressed concern that UOEC's substantial contributions have not been adequately acknowledged during major OBiS events despite previous discussions. Consequently, the Council directed the UOEC Board to reevaluate and review the partnership going forward.

The Council also reviewed membership applications from five churches. Four churches were unanimously approved for membership in UOEC:

• Light of Life Evangelical Church – Minneapolis, Minnesota    

• Trinity Oromo Evangelical Church – Portland, Oregon

• Peniel Oromo Evangelical Church – Sioux Falls, South Dakota

• Rehoboth Oromo Speaking Evangelical Church – California

The fifth application was tabled pending completion of the remaining membership requirements. The Council elected two new board members: Mr. Jatani Liban, replacing outgoing Vice President Mr. Dawit Olana Wayessa, and Ms. Bashatu Genati, replacing board member Mrs. Darartu Ganati Bocho. We extend our gratitude to the outgoing board members and warmly welcome the new ones. The 31st Council Meeting concluded on July 18 with delegates visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta, reflecting on Dr. King's enduring legacy of faith, justice, and service. The Council also announced that the 32nd UOEC Annual Council Meeting and Biannual Spiritual Conference will be jointly hosted by the churches in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) area: Oromo Evangelical Church of Washington, D.C.; Oromo Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church (Maryland); El Shaddai Evangelical Church (Maryland)

UOEC gives thanks to God for His faithfulness throughout the Council Meeting and expresses sincere appreciation to the Oromo Evangelical Church of Atlanta, its leadership, volunteers, and members for their outstanding hospitality and faithful service in hosting this year's gathering. We also thank all delegates, pastors, ministry leaders, and member churches for their continued commitment to advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and strengthening the fellowship of Oromo evangelical churches.