Under the Olive Tree

Our guest for this episode is singer and song writer Mussie Fisseha. In this conversation, you will hear Mussie's passion for not only his music ministry but his deep convictions that made him who he is today. As a worship pastor in his local church, Mussie talks about the benefit of being rooted in a local church and why we need to invest in cultivating small connections in our churches. This is more than an album discussion although we also loved his new album Addis Fitret. I am confident you will find it encouraging and engaging.

On this episode Emnet sits down with the most talented Ethiopian Jazz musician Kibrom Birhane. In this warm conversation, Emnet and Kibrom talk about his journey from childhood to get to his career as an artist, musician, a husband and now a father of two. They talk about his recent major achievements and the work it took him to get there. People who know Kibrom describe him as a humble and disciplined person and it's not an exaggeration to call him a musical genius. He truly wants to share his wealth of knowledge with his fellow musicians and we are honored that he sat down with us to share his story. This episode is on a list of must listen.

Kenessa and Solomon Bula are not only siblings but a very talented singers and song writers. Emnet and the brothers talk about ministry, the projects that they released last year and their up coming visions for their ministries and the Ethiopian church at large. We hope you enjoy this conversation.

We are back with a new season. In this first episode we have a returning guest and friend of the pod, Illasha Fekadu. Emnet and Illasha discuss his upcoming album 'Silante', his inspiration for the project and some of the behind the scene to give us a glimpse of what to expect. Enjoy this conversation!

On this episode I share what I have been reflecting on for the past few weeks. The idea of practicing gratitude while we make space to recognize loss in our life. I share what has been helpful to me and want to encourage anyone who is experiencing loss in their life. Thanks for being here!

The day we have been waiting for is here. Today is Resurrection Sunday where Jesus raises up from death after three days and goes to meet with His disciples. Thank you for taking the time to read with us this week. We hope and pray that these readings help you remember what Jesus went through on this week. Thank you to our repeat guest reader Ato Tegafaw Tirfe (Gashe). These readings are found in the next passages. Matthews 28:1-10 Mark 16:1-13 Luke 24:1-35 John 20:1-29

Today is one of the most significant days in our faith where Jesus ultimately gave His life for our sins and died on the cross. These stories are captured in all the four gospels in our Bibles. Matthews 26:47-27:66 Mark 14:43-15:47 Luke 22:47-23:56 John 18:1-19:42

Today's reading is from Thursday night where Jesus sat with His disciples to eat a Passover meal which is also commonly known as the last supper. Thursday's reading is found Matthew 26:17-46 Mark 14:12-42 Luke 22:7-46 John 13-17:26

Today's reading is a short passage about Judas betraying Jesus. The readings are from Matthew 26:14-16 Mark 14:10-11 Luke 22:3-6

On today's reading we cover a large portion of the Gospel's account of Jesus' teaching. We would like to give big thanks to our guest reader, Emnet's father Ato Tegafaw Tirfe (Gashe). Today's reading are found in Matthew 21:23-23:39, 26:6-13 Mark 11:27-12:44 Luke 20-21:4 John 12:1-11

Today's Holy Week reading is Monday's reading. We wish you a blessed Holy Week ahead filled with contemplation and meditation. The readings are from Matthew 21:12-22 Mark 11:12-18 Luke 19:45-48

On this special week, I want to invite you to a meditation reading of the Gospels as they describe Jesus' last week before His resurrection. Today's reading is Palm Sunday reading from Amharic New Version Translation Bible. Matthew 21:1-11 Mark 11:1-11 Luke 19:29-44 john 12:12-19

On this episode I am back with a familiar guest Abraham Tesfaye (Abrish). Abrish was the first guest to be on this podcast and I am honored to have him back. On this conversation we touch a lot of topics as friends do. Specifically, I want to highlight the fact that this episodes main intention is to introduce Abrish's new project. Abrish now has a new podcast and we discuss what that is and what he wants to do with his new podcast. We don't just stay there. We discuss topics related to our frustrations and opinions in the current political, cultural and faith worlds. I encourage you to listen to the whole segment till the end because I believe you'll hear Abrish's passion and heart for Christ and he drops some nuggets of wisdom.

In this episode Emnet and Misgana catch up on a littlie bit of everything. Misgana is a well-known musician that has impacted many young musicians in and out of the church. Misgana immediately makes you feel like you're his friend. His optimistic and fun personality and humble character is what makes his talent stand out. Get to know Misgana and catch up on what he's up to in this episode.

This episode is one that is complex and urgently needed. I believe Andrew helps us to process what compassion looks like in the midst of conflict and division. We understand that this might be one of the hard conversations we have ever had on this podcast. We ask that you open your heart to listen even if it makes you uncomfortable. I believe radical compassion is the practical action needed at this time, its the way of Jesus, its the counter-culture way of how His kingdom works. This conversation is not just empty platitudes. It is founded on scriptures that we invite you to take notes and refer to them by yourself. When you hear this conversation I challenge you to ask yourself, what is your radical and courageous way of love.

Mekdes Haddis is our guest on this episode.  Mekdese and I have important discussion about what mission looks like in our day. What the western church's place looks like in sending missionaries to countries like Ethiopia at this time. Mekdes doesn't shy away from calling out the good and the not so good in the western churches and all of us. You will hear Mekdes' heart, passion for God's mission work and her long experience in this area. She is equipped to guide us through what God wants from individuals and the church to take the gospel to our own communities with care and passion. I am grateful for her voice and I believe we will all benefit greatly from listening to her. I am thrilled to bring this conversation to you.

This conversation with Illasha (Israel) Fekadu is our Ethiopian New Years gift to you our listners! Illasha is a talented singer, song writer and composer and a music teacher. In this conversation Emnet and Illasha dive deep into his new album 'Endegena' which is now out in online music stores. We appreciate Illasha's honest self reflection and wisdom. This conversation is for you listeners out there who appreciate the finer musical expression and to all of us who want to grow in learning about ourselves. We believe you'll enjoy this conversation and hope you will thank him by listening to his album!

On this episode Emnet sits down with the talented gospel singer and song writer Ayda Abraham. Ayda shares with us her beautiful journey to finding herself in the gospel music industry. Her story is unique yet relatable to all of us who are going through a journey of finding ourselves, our gifts and talents and ultimately our calling. As we hear from Ayda, this journey is not always easy, it's met with challenges and hardships but it can lead us to establishing our faith. Ayda in her own words is fun loving and artistic person and the way she tells her story is raw and unfiltered and for that we truly are grateful. Ayda, we love and support who you are and we are thankful for your gifts! We hope you will enjoy our conversation!

On this episode Emnet sits down to share her thoughts and reflections on. She shares what has been helpful for her as she navigates real life struggles, the importance of sitting in uncomfortable places of uncertainty and to be okay with not knowing it all. The foundation of our relationship with God and others is not that we have it all figured out but it's the honest place of surrender. Emnet invites you to sit and reflect with her!

On this episode I am sitting down with a great Christian singer, song writer and musician Nefthalem Assegid (Kuku). He is well-known in the Ethiopian Evangelical churches for his contribution of beautifully orchestrated and harmony filled songs and choir arrangements. I am one out of the many people who benefited from Kuku's ministry. In this conversation you will hear Kuku and I reminisce about the old days, his big heart for the church and the Gospel and his wisdom to help inspire and train the generation to use their God given talents. Kuku has a wealth of experience and training that he still offers to our communities. I hope you will enjoy this lovely conversation with my friend Kuku!

Welcome to season two of this podcast We are so glad you are here! Our guest for the first episode is Etana Chemeda. On this conversation Etana and Emnet have a conversation on Empathy. how do we individually and collectively learn and develop empathy as a way to heal by understanding one another's feelings. Etana is a a councilor by profession and I believe he is equipped to help stir us towards empathy. this is an important message. Take a listen!

Introducing season 2

Here we are! Final episode of the first season of this podcast. What better way to end this season than…

Here we are! Final episode of the first season of this podcast. What better way to end this season than to introduce our listeners to my very best inspirations, supporters, best friends and older siblings Mihret and Beza Tegafaw. Words can not describe how much this episode means to me not only because my guests are my two older sisters and they're incredible but because the conversation we have is something I've been wanting to have for long time. We talk about growing up so close, how we struggled through our relationship and manage to maintain our sisterhood in different circumstances, what it looks like supporting and showing up for one another in our most difficult time, some family inside jokes and all around inspiring and sweet conversation. If you have sisters, cousins or best friends that you love this one is one to share with them. I hope you can relate to our conversations and experiences. If you do please let us know via comments and sharing your thoughts.

Happy New year to our podcast family! We are back with episode 11. I am pleased to introduce to you…

Happy New year to our podcast family! We are back with episode 11. I am pleased to introduce to you my guest for this episode, Etsegenet Mekonnen. For those of you who don't know her, Etsegenet is a talented musician, singer and songwriter based in California. She and her husband are a music powerhouse bringing Ethiopian music to different platforms. Other than music she has also dabbled in different professions, acting and modeling. I find her story of pursuing her faith, marriage, profession and her passion for serving God and His people very inspiring. She tells us how she keeps her faith in the center of everything she does even in the face of temptations and rejection. Please go to her social media and follow her work especially her new music called “Egzio”. I think you would love this sweet and easy conversation with Etsegenet.

We are back with episode 10 with a new guest, Yonas Gorfe. Yonas is a husband and a father, musician, author, director and known for his contribution to the growth of music in the Evangelical Ethiopian churches. In this conversation you will hear Yonas's heart for the church in Ethiopia and learn about what he's working on currently. I loved hearing his heart and hope for this generation and I believe he has an important message for the current church. Please listen with an open mind and I hope you learn something from our discussion.

We are back with episode 10 with a new guest, Yonas Gorfe. Yonas is a husband and a father, musician,…

We are back with episode 9 and this time our guest is a dear and long time friend Yohannes Mohammed. He is known for his simple but profound and captivating way of teaching the Bible. On this episode we chat about his theological trainings and how we ought to use these trainings to benefit the church. John also opens up about his life and what he's learned throughout his ministry years and the importance of humility in the Christian life. Listen till the end as John shares his heart for the Ethiopian Evangelical churches. I loved our conversation and I know some of you need to hear this. We need more honest and uplifting conversations this time more than ever. I hope you'll find some beauty and truth from our discussion.

We are back with episode 9 and this time our guest is a dear and long time friend Yohannes Mohammed.…

On episode 8 we bring back Andrew DeCort who was a guest on episode 4 to talk about recent events…

On episode 8 we bring back Andrew DeCort who was a guest on episode 4 to talk about recent events happening in Ethiopia regarding ethnic unrest. We ask Andrew to help us process our feelings, how we can love our neighbors even those who think differently than us and how we can all be a generation that brings love, justice and peace to Ethiopia. This might be a hard conversation where we talk about looking into ourselves and ask hard questions. Stick to the end to listen to Andrew's encouraging words of hope and prayer and we invite you to do the same. Lament, Pray and Listen! I hope you'll be encouraged by this discussion.

On this episode Emnet and Eyasu talk about his music, where his inspiration comes from and the struggle between reaching…

On this episode Emnet and Eyasu talk about his music, where his inspiration comes from and the struggle between reaching a wide audience while staying true to his art. We also talk about what his next projects would look like in the future. I hope you'll enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

On this episode Emnet brings her husband Thomas so the listeners can get to know him and hear from him. They talk about how they met 10 years ago, the good and hard experiences in their relationship and the importance of having hard conversations to grow their marriage. As always we hope that you enjoy the conversation and be encouraged in your own relationships.

On this episode Emnet brings her husband Thomas so the listeners can get to know him and hear from him.…

On this episode well known writer and author Hiwot and I catch up on life, talk about Hiwot’s writings, books…

On this episode well known writer and author Hiwot and I catch up on life, talk about Hiwot's writings, books and her passion behind her writing styles. Hiwot as a writer gives us her recommendations on a must read list of literature for readers who want to dive deep into the great world of Amharic literature. As always I hope you enjoy our conversation and find Hiwot's books and her writings fun and enjoyable. Find more about Hiwot and her writing here: https://www.facebook.com/hiwotyee

On this episode Andrew and Emnet discuss an intercultural marriage, the value of processing our grief and talk about Andrew's "Neighbor-Love" project. Andrew shares how we can all become ambassadors of love to bring much needed healing and reconciliation to our communities. As always I hope you enjoy this conversation, learn something and be encouraged by this episode. Find more information about Andrew here: https://andrew-decort.com/

On this episode Andrew and Emnet discuss an intercultural marriage, the value of processing our grief and talk about Andrew’s…

On this episode my good friend Paulos and I talk about the hard transitions of living in new place and…

On this episode my good friend Paulos and I talk about the hard transitions of living in new place and learning to live in a new culture. Paulos also talks about his new book on Christology and why it is important for churches today. Take a listen to this interesting and fun conversation and I hope you learn something.

On this episode Abraham and I reminisce about the old days, our decade long friendships, discuss social media culture and our coffee preferences. We also get into the widely discussed Tiger king show. Even though this is a light hearted conversation I'm sure our listeners can find some nuggets of wisdom from this conversation. Abrish is one of the great people I know for a long time. It's only fitting to have him as my first guest!

Hi! Welcome to the first episode of the “Under the Olive Tree” podcast! On this first episode I will be introducing the podcast and what its all about. I also introduce myself and why I chose the name of the podcast “Under the Olive Tree”. This episode will give a glimpse to what this podcast is going to be like and what we will focus on going forward. I hope you tune in!