Tsega Kale Heywet church was founded in 1972 by six people at a school compound, Grace Christian Academy in the center of Addis Ababa. Though the number of believers at the time was very few, they spread the Gospel in the school and community. But the church was forced to close by former Ethiopian military junta, dispersing the number of believers. The church leaders at the time used home cell groups and other special events to keep the congregation and members connected. This diligence and perseverance of the leaders helped to keep the church together through the hardship. Though the church did not get the school compound back after the fall of the military government, it was reopened a few blocks away from the school with its original name “Grace Kale Heywet Church.” The church further stretched its ministry for its members by opening a Bible college in 1992. Students join for certificates and diplomas in the church college.

Now the members are more than 300. Three full time pastors, children and youth ministry, and women’s ministry serve the members in spiritual and administrative work. The church reaches out to the local community with different religious backgrounds like Muslim, Orthodox, Catholics, and evangelical Christians. There is one department in the church named Pineal. The role of this ministry is to mobilize, motivate and encourage members to support children, elderly people, and women who are very poor in the community. The women’s ministry has a special ministry for people who are in prison, supplying them with different items and visiting them. The church is always looking for new ways to minister and reach out to the community.

The main pastor of the church is Pastor Wondemagen Biro. He served in the church for the last 20 years. It’s been eight years since he became the spiritual department head. He is married and a father of one. The church is led by a board of seven elders. They make all the administrative and spiritual decisions of the church.