Alemu Beeftu
9 min read ⭑
“I keep the protocol of entering the presence of a king. When a person enters the presence of a king, he comes with a gift and does not leave until the king releases him. That’s why I make an effort to enter his gates with thanksgiving and wait in the throne room until I am released.”
Born in the Ethiopian countryside, everyone thought Alemu Beeftu would be a quiet farmer — but God had other plans. After learning to read at 12 years old and encountering Jesus at age 14, he felt God stirring within him a deep desire to understand the Bible and teach it to others. Today, Dr. Alemu Beeftu is the founder of Gospel of Glory, a ministry that trains pastors, businesspeople and politicians to change the world for Christ. He’s also written dozens of books, such as “Divine Dialogue,” “When He Opens the Heavens” and “Abiding in His Presence.”
Dr. Beeftu has faithfully preached God’s Word for the last five decades, despite discouragement, spiritual attacks and even threats of death. In today’s conversation, he’s getting honest about part of that journey. Join us to learn how he came to know Jesus, the story behind how he got his first Bible and the spiritual habits that draw him closer to God.
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
The places we’re from shape us in ways a résumé never could. So how does your hometown reveal the real you behind your web bio?
I was born on an isolated farm in the Ethiopian countryside. As the youngest of 10 children, I was expected to stay on the family farm to help my father — and nothing more. I was named Alemu Beeftu. Alemu means “his world,” while Beeftu means “the light of the dawn.” They reflect John 3:16 and Matthew 5:14. The Lord Jesus loves me and called me before the foundation of the world to be a messenger of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The meaning of my name became my prophetic destiny.
Unsplash+
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all picked up skills that surprised us with their impact. What’s one learned skill — maybe unexpected or “nonspiritual” on the surface — that’s quietly transformed your life and deepened your spiritual journey?
I was always a curious child. Occasionally, a government-issued pamphlet made its way to our family farm. My father would carry that white piece of paper from the government around, looking for someone who could read it to him.
One day, I asked my father, “What is this thing you carry? Why does it make you look for someone?”
My father answered, “I need someone who can tell me what is written on it.”
I said, “What do I need to do to help you?”
My father replied, “You would have to go to a special place and learn how to read. But you cannot do that. We cannot afford to send you to such a place.”
However, that incident sparked a burning desire in me to learn how to read. Understand, I was about 12 years old at the time. I was probably thought of as being too old to benefit from schooling. But it wasn’t long until I discovered a missionary school about a five-hour walk from my home — a place where I could learn to read. I ran away from home to go to school there.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has an origin story — and so does every believer. We all start somewhere, often in brokenness or longing. So what’s your story? How did you come to know Christ, and what drew you to him in the first place?
Until I was in second grade, I worshipped idols. When I was in second grade, a math teacher read Psalm 15 as an opening to class: “Who can abide with you, O God?” I knew I couldn’t. I began to shake. I was shaking all through class. I knew I had to do something in response to the God of this Psalm. After class, I asked the math teacher about what he’d read. He told me not to worry about it because it wasn’t part of the curriculum.
I searched for the missionary who ran the school. She understood what was happening, and she shared the gospel with me. I was about 14 at the time. That day, I gave my life to Christ, and it marked a turning point in my life. I became free forever, not only to worship the Lord Jesus Christ as his Son but also to serve him.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your current obsession?
I am the founder and president of Gospel of Glory. I have a passion for training pastors, business professionals and politicians to develop national leadership infrastructures. Currently, I am concentrating on equipping and empowering transformational leaders of various ages who have the calling, gifting and character to foster sustainable societal change for the kingdom of God.
I earned a B.A. from Biola University and master’s and doctoral degrees in Curriculum Design and Community Development from Michigan State University. I have also provided leadership worldwide for the body of Christ for over 55 years, spanning more than 55 nations on six continents, as a full-time minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In addition, I have planted a number of churches, raised up pastors and written more than 50 books. My most recent books include: “Divine Dialogue,” “When He Opens the Heavens,” “Abiding in His Presence,” “The King’s Signet Ring,” “Rekindle the Altar Fire,” “Breakout for Breakthrough,” “Divine Pattern for the Fullness of His Glory,” “Restoration for Lasting Transformation,” “Igniting Leaders for Kingdom Impact,” “Wrestling for Your Prophetic Destiny,” “Put Your Heart Above Your Head,” “Restoring the Altar for Fresh Fire,” “The Leadership Journey,” “Spiritual Accountability,” “Leading for Kingdom Impact,” “Determination to Make a Difference” and others.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
We often stumble into our callings only to realize God was leading us all along. What moment — or season — opened your eyes to the work he made you for?
After I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior as a new believer, I was hungry for the Word of God more than anything else. I had a strong desire to buy a Bible to read the Word of God, but I didn’t have any money to buy one. I started working for a mission to save enough money to buy a Bible. However, a schoolboy who must work for his schooling and living expenses doesn’t have much extra money.
After some time, I still didn’t have a Bible. One day, after I finished my work but before I left, I waited for a missionary and asked her if I had saved enough money to get my Bible that night. She had a box where she put the money I was saving for the Bible. She opened the box and counted the money. She told me I had only half the amount I needed.
As I was standing in her kitchen, I started envisioning another year without having the Word of God. Without thinking, my sadness and disappointment became evident through tears that began to run down my cheeks. When she saw the tears, she was shocked and asked me if that was because of the Bible.
I said, “Yes.”
Then she asked me, “If I give you a Bible, are you willing to continue working for it until it is paid off?”
Without even thinking, I said, “Yes.”
Seeing the depth of my disappointment and hearing my promise to continue to work for it, she gave me my first Bible that evening. What a joyful night! That night, I didn’t sleep. As soon as I got into my dorm, I started reading my new Bible, and I didn’t remember when I stopped or if I just fell asleep. That is how the Lord ignited a passion in me for his Word and inspired me to start writing books that are biblically sound and spiritually relevant to the edification and transformation of believers.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied habits that open our hearts to the presence of God. So let us in. Which spiritual practice is working best for you in this season?
The focus of my life is to host God’s presence and abide in him every day. Usually, every morning, around 3:33 a.m., when I come into my prayer room, I want to be in his presence and call him Abba Father. On my face, in the presence of the King of Glory, I cry, “Glory!” I also reflect on a passage of Scripture and use it as a basis for my prayer on that day.
I keep the protocol of entering the presence of a king. When a person enters the presence of a king, he comes with a gift and does not leave until the king releases him. That’s why I make an effort to enter his gates with thanksgiving and wait in the throne room until I am released.
In addition to my daily devotion, I also read the Word of God for revelation and impartation. I read through the Bible at least twice a year.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Looking backward, considering the full sweep of your unique faith journey and all you encountered along the way, what’s the top spiritual habit that has changed reality and your heart?
We are created and saved to have fellowship with our Creator as his children. That is, having ongoing communication with him. God communicates with us throughout the Bible, through questions that lead to a dialogue for deeper spiritual intimacy. God uses questions as personal invitations for us to have an encounter with the King of kings, fostering a deeper relationship with him. For Christians seeking to deepen their faith, this perspective offers a fresh way to engage with Scripture and prayer, emphasizing humility and responsiveness to God’s voice for renewal and healing. That is how we come to know his heart and his purpose for living for his glory.
Divine dialogue guides us toward repentance and transformation by exposing motives and calling us to repentance, providing practical insights for Christians seeking to align their lives with God’s will. It also helps us to navigate through personal struggles or overcome spiritual stagnation. That is the reason why the Lord started a dialogue with Adam and Eve by saying, “Where are you?” The purpose of the dialogue is to bring them back to the original relationship.
We all have rhythms and anchors that help us stay rooted in faith. What has helped you abide in God’s love and live fruitfully in today’s fast-paced world?
As believers, we are given the grace to correct the past, to redeem every opportunity today and to envision the future. This process empowers us to be grounded in our faith in God’s faithfulness and to renew our hope, giving us the strength to move forward and abide in his love, thereby having an impact on our generation. For a fruitfulness of such life, we need fellowship both with God and believers by believing that we are part of the body of Christ.
QUESTION #8: dream
Every calling has a core. What has God made unmistakably clear about your purpose, and how does that shape the way you live, work and lead today?
The core call of my life is to declare his glory among the nations by preaching the gospel, equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, and empowering emerging young leaders for greater impact. Hence, my daily prayer is to carry his presence and declare his powerful name with a pure heart, a renewed mind and a sincere faith — as I exemplify this through my life and in what I write, teach and preach.
“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15, ESV).
Each one of us has a unique story of how God has drawn us to Jesus, how he changed our hearts and ways of thinking. Dr. Alemu Beeftu shared his today, detailing the miraculous way God transformed him from an idol worshipper who didn’t know how to read to a devoted follower of Jesus who studies God’s Word devotedly each day.
So what’s your story, reader? How has God changed you, helped you, grown you? And with whom can you share that story this week?
Dr. Alemu Beeftu, founder and president of Gospel of Glory, has a heart for training pastors, businesspeople and politicians to build national leadership infrastructures. He concentrates on transformational leaders of various ages who have the calling, gifting and character to foster sustainable societal change for the kingdom of God. He earned a B.A. from Biola University and master’s and doctoral degrees in Curriculum Design and Community Development from Michigan State University. Dr. Beeftu’s recent books include: Divine Dialogue, When He Opens the Heavens, Abiding in His Presence, The King’s Signet Ring and Rekindle the Altar Fire.
