Meserete Kristos Church Addis Ababa Choir

Meserete Kristos Church Addis Ababa Choir (MKC A.A. Choir) is one of the most renowned choirs of adult gospel singers in Ethiopia. It was founded in the capital city, Addis Ababa, on April 28, 1973, by the initiative of MKC Evangelist Dagne Assefa and the strong leadership of the elders of the MKC congregation located near Olympia Furniture and Equipment Enterprise (across Dembel Commercial Center in Bole sub-city). Mr. Mustefa Ali was the first choir leader and musician (accordion), who provided high support to the church in organizing the choir ministry.

As the years went by, young, active members with unique abilities, personalities, and experiences, ministering to each other and further persons, emerged within the choir and passed God’s varied grace (1Peter 4:10). These members included [in alphabetical order]

Belayneh G/Hana (editor, leader, and Bible teacher)
Berhanu Dereba (guitarist, songwriter, and choir property caretaker)
Bisrat Worku (guitar player and songwriter)
Daniel G/Yesus (lead guitarist, songwriter, and music composer)
Dereje Kebede (songwriter, music composer, editor, guitar player, and soloist)
Elias Mussie (accordion player and leader)
Eyerusalem Teshome (songwriter, music composer, and soloist)
Fekade Siraj (songwriter and music composer)
Girma Engida (editor and leader/organizer)
Gizachew Worku (lead guitar player, music composer, songwriter, leader, soloist, and Bible teacher)
Meaza Abebe (songwriter and music composer)
Meseretab Tamirat (songwriter, editor, music composer, and leader)
Million Kebede (songwriter, music composer and active choir member)
Dr. Samuel Tefera (music composer, songwriter, leader and editor)
Samson Desta (songwriter, music composer, and writer)
Solomon Demissie (accordion and synthesizer player, music composer, songwriter, and senior leader)
Talu Dana (songwriter and editor)
Tamirat Wolba (leader, guitar player, music composer, songwriter, and soloist)
Workalemahu Terefe (songwriter, music composer, editor, guitar player, and soloist)
Zerihun Abate (guitar player).

The choir began its official public ministry with a special cloth set for the church’s annual conference in 1973. It was on this occasion that the name Meserete Kristos Church Addis Ababa Choir was assigned to it. At the beginning of the ministry, there were 15 men and 12 women, totaling 27 members. A few months later, more members were added, including Bisrat Worku, Deneke Belay, Dereje Kebede, and Million Kebede, bringing the number to 33.

This gospel choir group faced many challenges during the Ethiopian Revolution (1974‒1991). In October 1974, the socialist government launched its Edigete Beheberet Yeweketena Yesera Zemecha (“Development through Cooperation Campaign”). All senior high school and university students were called to serve in a two-year rural community development program. This brought about significant changes to the lives of the choir members. Most of them were forced to leave their home area and church to educate villagers in community development, reading and writing Amharic, and basic arithmetic. The socialist doctrine spread far and wide, bringing about undesired cultural changes. The revolutionary youth of that time went to the extent of directly opposing Evangelical Christian teachings, openly denying the existence of God, confiscating Bibles, etc.

The persecution of Christian believers by government leaders and followers of socialist ideology resulted in the church’s closing and the nationalization of its properties and assets. The Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) Addis Ababa Choir lost its brand new musical instruments and related items. Many of its members were pressured and thrown into local prisons; some were lucky enough to escape and migrate to various countries.

Despite the growing challenges, MKC and its choir ministry persevered. The bitter things— persecution and the like — began to transform into unexpected, immense opportunities and evolved into better Christian lifestyles. The choir ministry continued in the underground homes of selected, committed Christian leaders and families, focusing on and centering on the cross, just like believers in the New Testament book of Acts did. These underground gatherings were organized and accepted by their mother church, Meserete Kristos Church, as home chapels. The choir rendered its service by dividing itself into smaller groups in the many home chapels.

The joining and rejoining of young, charismatic, and energetic, yet humble choir members like Belayneh G/Hanna, Bisrat Worku, Dereje Kebede, Getachew Tesfaye, Getahun Ayele, Gizachew Worku, Million Kebede, Samson Desta, Tamirat Wolba, and Workalemahu Terefe contributed significantly to the growth and progress of the choir’s ministry. It included gearing the choir ministry to its call, equipping and preparing members for building the Kingdom of God, writing and composing numerous and more spiritual hymns, solid biblical teaching and prayer sessions, the admission of musicians with improved skills, and the change of musical instruments like box guitar and accordion to electric guitar and synthesizers.

These build-ups grew warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, stronger through worship, and broader through ministry. The Holy Spirit’s guidance and the Lord’s grace, coupled with the flourishing of new, enthusiastic, and biblically centered praise songs, the gifts and talents of its members paved the way for strengthening the choir ministry and providing timely comfort to believers. The choir’s continuously released songs encouraged believers to remain calm and carry on, specifically to be strong and courageous in the strength and grace of the Lord, and to fulfill His Great Commission (Matthew 28:16‒20).

The choir group was highly encouraged and blessed by the recruitment of more new youngsters, who demonstrated a profound commitment and passion for exploring and enhancing their spirituality through gospel songs, and engaged proactively in strengthening and maintaining the sustainability of the choir ministry. Thanks to the Lord’s great assistance and guidance, the choir continued its reforms, its development, and the successive plans of its choir leaders. The gospel choir has been serving at a higher level with its 30 senior members, comprising 16 men and 14 women.

Note that these members are not from a single congregation but have been brought together from several MKC churches within Addis Ababa. Additionally, the regular choir service is not tied to a single congregation. A six-month service plan is formulated in collaboration with the concerned elders of Meserete Kristos congregations, other evangelical churches, and partner organizations. The services are then conducted according to this scheduled program, both within and outside Addis Ababa.

Through the years, the choir has aimed to give God the glory, honor, and praise He deserves, utilizing its spiritual music and the gifts of its individual members. This group of adults regularly gathers before His presence and amid His children, coming together with thanksgiving and exalting Him through music and song. The gospel choir will always continue to serve with humility and passion.

The special public services that Meserete Kristos Church Addis Ababa Choir contributed to the believers’ community include:

Organized special events at the National Lottery Hall at Addis Ababa in August 1973 to pray for the country’s people affected by drought and collected relief assistance and gifts for those who encountered food shortages.
Sang for seven consecutive years until 1980 during the annual one-week Evangelical Churches Conference held at Nazareth (alias Adama) Bible Academy.
Served on the various grand conferences organised by Ethiopian evangelical churches such as Mulu Wongel, Mekane Yesus, Kale Hiwot, Hiywot Berhan, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (Holy Trinity Cathedral).
Participated in open-air national-level prayer gatherings at Jan Meda, Addis Ababa Stadium, and several other places. The choir also conducted a grand prayer and word-sharing meeting at the Ethiopian Parliament building in 1976.

The choir members are dressed in simple, golden-yellow, loose-fitting quality robes outfitted with a reinforced shoulder yoke and a stylishly designed white triangular neck, featuring a bold red cross at the center as a sign of loving and serving God and people. The uniquely dressed MKC Addis Ababa Choir is also informally known in the Amharic language as Beecha (“Yellow”) Choir. In most cultures, the color yellow symbolizes sunshine, happiness, cheerfulness, warmth, praise, and positivity.

The MKC Addis Ababa Choir has a mission to inspire, encourage, and nurture one another towards a deeper faith in Jesus Christ through spiritual songs, prayer, praise, and the proclamation of the Word of God. Choral singing has been considered the most widespread form of art performance in Ethiopia. The Meserete Kristos Choir is a group that requires no significant formal music education but demands profound commitment, great passion, and humility. It will continue its ministry, believing that it is an excellent opportunity to serve in the Kingdom of God. The choir members also firmly believe that they are people learning to lead and encourage others to have faith in Christ by living a life of faith, one that embodies calling, competence, and Christian character.

Over the last decades, the choir has had the opportunity to minister in public and through audio recordings. It has produced over 800 songs; some of them are recorded on cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and videos. The lyrics of the seven published music albums can be accessed on the Android app “MKC Choir AA Mezmur Lyrics,” and the songs can be viewed on TV programs and YouTube channels, such as Elshadai Television Network. At times, the choir made tours to serve God the Almighty at various locations in Ethiopia and abroad, including South Africa and the United States. The LORD has also opened doors to minister alongside other choirs at several gospel festivals and conferences in Addis Ababa, under the umbrellas of the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Gospel Believers’ Churches Council.