Messianic Rabbi Kokeb Gedamu, and his wife Menalu, are Ethiopian messianic Jews who were part of the Beta Yisrael people in Ethiopia. During the communist rule of Ethiopia, Kokeb and his wife fled their country making the difficult journey through the desert to Sudan. They encountered many trials and the Lord miraculously delivered them from injury and persecution. In 1990, while in Sudan they had their first child, a daughter named Ruhama. In the Sudan, Kokeb was a Bible teacher, prayer group leader, and an elder in a congregation of Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees.
The Lord then opened the doors for them to go to Egypt, where Kokeb served as the leader of the elders of an Ethiopian and Eritrean church, as well as having significant pastoral and teaching responsibilities. In Egypt, their son Ebenezer was born in 1993. Finally in 1994, their long journey ended after seven years of of being without a permanent home. After making Aliyah (immigration) to Israel, they had their last child, a daughter named Tsiona in 1996.
While in Israel, Kokeb was the chairman of the Elders Committee and one of the pastors of the six Ethiopian messianic Jewish congregations. Through his ministry, many young Ethiopian Jews were brought into the kingdom of God. This brought significant national media attention in newspapers, radio, and television, which led to his persecution. Despite the difficult situation in Israel, Kokeb never gave up his vision to spiritually nurture and help his Ethiopian Jewish brothers and sisters. In the beginning of 2000, Kokeb responded to the Lord’s call to further his education. The family moved to Canada where he attended school and eventually was ordained as pastor in the Open Bible Faith Fellowship of Canada. In 2001, he was called to Philadelphia by leaders in the messianic Jewish movement as pastor and Messianic Rabbi. There, he established a new congregation, Congregation Burning Bush of Greater Philadelphia (CBBGP), where Ethiopians Jews and Christians could worship and serve the Lord together in unity. Over the last five years, Pastor Gedamu had the privilege of leading over 20 people into a personal relationship with Yeshua / Jesus, as well as seeing them immersed in water. Now, Messianic Rabbi Kokeb Gedamu continues to lead Congregation Burning Bush with the help of his leadership board and his assistant, Tesfaye Dechcasa.
Kokeb Gedamu is an ordained Rabbi of the IAMCS (International Alliance of Messianic Congregations And Synagogues). Congregation Burning Bush is also a member congregation of the IAMCS. He serves the IAMCS as their Regional Director for Africa. He also is the Director of the Board of Operation Tikvah (a humanitarian aid project) of the MJAA (Messianic Jewish Alliance of America). He also speaks in different congregations and churches in the United States to spread the message of what Yeshua is doing among the Ethiopian Jewish people in Ethiopia and Israel. He has a passion for revival, healing and deliverance, marriage, and teaching on the Jewish roots of faith in Yeshua / Jesus.
Rabbi Kokeb has authored two very popular Amharic books on marriage (one has been translated into English). Through these books, Kokeb has become a leader of marriage seminars among Ethiopian Christian churches. In late 2010, his third book will be become available, “Journey Beyond Imagination,” which chronicles the journey of the Gedamu family.
The whole Gedamu family is actively involved in ministry. At CBBGP, Menalu leads worship, prayer, and regularly counsels the believers. Ruhama attends and helps in the children’s program at CBBGP as well as attending Congregation Beth Yeshua, a local messianic Jewish synagogue (CBY). At CBY, she is part of the college-age worship team and dance group. Ebenezer and Tsiona are also regular attendees of both congregations.
The Lord then opened the doors for them to go to Egypt, where Kokeb served as the leader of the elders of an Ethiopian and Eritrean church, as well as having significant pastoral and teaching responsibilities. In Egypt, their son Ebenezer was born in 1993. Finally in 1994, their long journey ended after seven years of of being without a permanent home. After making Aliyah (immigration) to Israel, they had their last child, a daughter named Tsiona in 1996.
While in Israel, Kokeb was the chairman of the Elders Committee and one of the pastors of the six Ethiopian messianic Jewish congregations. Through his ministry, many young Ethiopian Jews were brought into the kingdom of God. This brought significant national media attention in newspapers, radio, and television, which led to his persecution. Despite the difficult situation in Israel, Kokeb never gave up his vision to spiritually nurture and help his Ethiopian Jewish brothers and sisters. In the beginning of 2000, Kokeb responded to the Lord’s call to further his education. The family moved to Canada where he attended school and eventually was ordained as pastor in the Open Bible Faith Fellowship of Canada. In 2001, he was called to Philadelphia by leaders in the messianic Jewish movement as pastor and Messianic Rabbi. There, he established a new congregation, Congregation Burning Bush of Greater Philadelphia (CBBGP), where Ethiopians Jews and Christians could worship and serve the Lord together in unity. Over the last five years, Pastor Gedamu had the privilege of leading over 20 people into a personal relationship with Yeshua / Jesus, as well as seeing them immersed in water. Now, Messianic Rabbi Kokeb Gedamu continues to lead Congregation Burning Bush with the help of his leadership board and his assistant, Tesfaye Dechcasa.
Kokeb Gedamu is an ordained Rabbi of the IAMCS (International Alliance of Messianic Congregations And Synagogues). Congregation Burning Bush is also a member congregation of the IAMCS. He serves the IAMCS as their Regional Director for Africa. He also is the Director of the Board of Operation Tikvah (a humanitarian aid project) of the MJAA (Messianic Jewish Alliance of America). He also speaks in different congregations and churches in the United States to spread the message of what Yeshua is doing among the Ethiopian Jewish people in Ethiopia and Israel. He has a passion for revival, healing and deliverance, marriage, and teaching on the Jewish roots of faith in Yeshua / Jesus.
Rabbi Kokeb has authored two very popular Amharic books on marriage (one has been translated into English). Through these books, Kokeb has become a leader of marriage seminars among Ethiopian Christian churches. In late 2010, his third book will be become available, “Journey Beyond Imagination,” which chronicles the journey of the Gedamu family.
The whole Gedamu family is actively involved in ministry. At CBBGP, Menalu leads worship, prayer, and regularly counsels the believers. Ruhama attends and helps in the children’s program at CBBGP as well as attending Congregation Beth Yeshua, a local messianic Jewish synagogue (CBY). At CBY, she is part of the college-age worship team and dance group. Ebenezer and Tsiona are also regular attendees of both congregations.