New roots are taking hold as Edify’s work deepens across Ethiopia, from classroom instruction and education technology to biblical integration and leadership development. Not in grand, trumpet-blaring ways, but in everyday spaces: the lesson plans, staff rooms, early-morning devotions, and the way students now talk about God as easily as they talk about their best friend.
That growth is everywhere in the small but growing Mintesnot Academy, tucked on the edge of town. You can feel it in the steady presence of school proprietor Bzunesh Jorge, whose words carry grit and grace. When asked how her partnership with Edify has transformed her school, she answered slowly, as though each line had been lived.
“We are learning how to integrate this approach into subjects like Math and Environmental Science without drifting from the subject matter, but by embedding truth and a Christ-centered perspective. We believe that when students are taught this way, they will grow into productive, ethical, and responsible citizens. This training was designed with that very purpose and has been incredibly impactful for us…I had the privilege of attending the training myself,” she continues, “and our teachers have also participated multiple times. As a result, their capacity has greatly improved. From our daily interactions with students to how we disciple them, the training has brought a positive shift in our mindset and practice.”
Bzunesh speaks of transformation with quiet conviction, describing how her students are already growing into new leaders. One sunny morning illustrated the transformation perfectly: the sun rose soft and bright, lighting the school’s courtyard like a stage. Fifty students stood with anticipation, faces tilted up, waiting. A boy, no more than ten years old, stood before them, skinny elbows, nervous hands, and began to share the parable of the lost son. After each line, the students answered in unison, “OK!” their voices echoing across the space. The teacher’s face glowed, and something warm settled in the courtyard: joy, holy and unmistakable.
“We tell our students about values in the Bible through stories,” Bzunesh says. “If I choose one of them and ask for the story of Daniel,” she smiles, “he or she will do the same.”Each week, the scene repeats; another student steps forward, and the courtyard becomes a place of quiet transformation as growth continues to weave its way through the school.
Lydiya, a Christ-Centered Education Officer in Ethiopia, summarizes the movement: “God is doing wonderful things in our country, and He is supporting us to flourish a God-fearing generation.”
This generation of students is anchoring into something lasting, something true. They are not simply memorizing Bible verses but living God’s story themselves; steady in faith, grounded in truth, and growing strong in soil that has been tested and redeemed.
