89. From Ethiopia to the World: Student Ministry's Role in Growing Global Missions

What if the very thing that once made you feel ashamed is the same place God wants to birth boldness—and a mission that reaches the nations?

In this episode of God on the Move Biruktawit Tsegaye shares how her father’s dramatic transformation and fearless street evangelism shaped her own calling, how God turned her shame into confidence, and how she moved from engineering into campus ministry with EvaSUE despite family rejection and real spiritual opposition. Biruk describes Ethiopia’s complex Christian landscape, ongoing persecution in some regions, and the presence of unreached peoples, while highlighting how God is at work within Orthodox and even Muslim communities. She also shares Living Bridge Global’s vision of how global migration can become a mission  force through mobilizing international students and professionals. Biruk shares stories of evangelism fruit in Ethiopia, Thailand, Spain, and the Netherlands, alongside her anticipation for Lausanne’s Younger Leaders Gathering.

📚 Links from the Interview

EvaSUE

Ambaricho International Prayer and Mission Movement

Africa to the Rest

Lausanne Orthodox Initiative

🧑‍💻 About Biruk

Biruktawit Tsegaye was born and raised in Assela, a town in central Ethiopia. Her parents were nominal Ethiopian Orthodox believers. However, Biruk’s father’s transformation into a born-again believer became the catalyst for her own conversion and a significant inspiration for her life in ministry.

Biruk served as a youth leader in her home church, and during her five years at university, she was part of the leadership team of the campus fellowship. After graduating from one of Ethiopia's well-known universities with a degree in Hydraulic Engineering, she joined EvaSUE (Evangelical Students and Graduates Union of Ethiopia) as a full-time staff member.

Upon joining EvaSUE, Biruk underwent 45 days of intensive training in Campus Mission Mobilization (CMM) during the summer. This program, introduced by Horn of Africa—one of EvaSUE's partners—included courses such as Kairos and NVISION. She worked as a mission mobilizer and coordinator in three different universities, organizing short-term missions with students to reach unreached people groups in Ethiopia. Additionally, she coordinated mission training sessions and conferences.

Succinctly, Biruk joined AIPM (Ambaricho International Prayer and Missions Movement), an indigenous organization. During her time with AIPM, she spent eight months in Thailand focusing on mission mobilization and outreach programs alongside an international team composed of individuals from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, the Philippines, Mali, Kenya, and Thailand. This experience was eye-opening and enriching, deepening her understanding of global missions and teamwork.