No Accidental Missionary: How an Enemy of the Faith Became a Christian in Saudi Arabia

The Biography of Tesfai Tesema: The Missionaries to America, Volume 3

By: Marilyn Feldhaus

Narrated by: Sean Slater

Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

This is the story of the making of a missionary to America. Dr. Tesfai Tesema was born in Ethiopia, grew up as an agnostic, became a Christian in Saudi Arabia, started a church planting movement in Sudan, and became a missionary in San Jose, California.

©2018 Mission Nation Publishing (P)2020 Mission Nation Publishing

An insiteful story

I am struck by how much Tesfais story runs parallelto St Paul’s. Good to listen to some parts were slow , but still good
This story is way past the normal American experience should prove very interesting the non-believers and believers alike

By No Accident You're Here- Don't Miss this Story!

Who does not love a good story? Imagine a story brimming with personalities, peoples and places you would not otherwise experience. A story, though so different from your own, that yet reveals your own heart. How about a story that hints at the heart of the great Storyteller? Such is the rhythm of this book.
In “No Accidental Missionary,” Marilyn Feldhaus tells the story of Dr. Tesfai Tesema. The audio book springs to life with Sean Slater’s voice.
The story is filled with surprises. Global geopolitical machinations, cultural clashes and collaborations. Personal intimacies and insights. So many characters, those Christian and not, those friendly and not. The story is filled with truth and love. Every character is revealed to be a gift of God.
I would like to discuss with you all the twists and turns. But should I be a spoiler? Please, discover the delights yourself.
Stephen, Concordia Sarasota

A Spiritually "Rags to Riches" story of Providence

This was a wonderful, encouraging story of what happens when one person listens to God with a desire to obey, no matter what.

Tha narrator was distracting with a staccato deliverance filled with mispronounciation, but he did a good job at creating different voices.

Inspiring

His faith and obedient service to inspire me to do so also, His wife is very wise.

Great Story of Faith and Missionary activities

This was certainly a great story how God worked with this missionary to grow the Kingdom!!
Good narration too!

Inspirational Story

I recently listened to the Audible book, “No Accidental Missionary: How an Ethiopian man became a Christian in Saudi Arabia, and a missionary to America,” and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so enthralling I didn’t want to pause while driving from Atlanta to Orlando. This is the amazing story of how God is still at work among people who are opened to His leading, and confirms the statement that God is not as interested in our ability as our availability.



Tesfai Tesema grew up in Ethiopia at a time when socialism was changing the way of life there. He was a bit of a slacker and disappointment to his parents. He didn’t finish school, couldn’t hold a job, and wanted to waste his life away. In many ways he was simply a regular guy; a sinner in need of God’s grace, and once He recognized God’s great love for him in Jesus it revolutionized his life. The story is inspirational, gripping, moving, and filled with a wonderful testimony of the power of God’s purpose and plan. From the streets of Ethiopia to Jakarta to Saudi Arabia to Sudan to America, God was preparing Tesfai for reaching his own people and beyond with the good news of Jesus! What a powerful reminder that God is constantly preparing us for things we could never imagine in ways we could never fully understand. An motivating book!

God's Amazing Work Through His Faith-filled Man!

The audio book I read on the life of Tesfai Tesema was a fascinating journey. It combined adventure, danger and intrigue with personal expression, drama and, above all, faith. The hand of God is seen clearly throughout this man’s life, as God worked in and through him to affect and impact the lives of untold numbers of people in different countries.
I was reminded of Abraham – called from a distant land, traveling and stopping along the way, but finally reaching the Promised Land of Canaan. Then, I thought of Moses – one who initially fought against his call from God, but was eventually used in ways that furthered the people and plans of God. Finally, I thought of Saul-Paul, initially a self-righteous Pharisee, whom God used to become the New Testament “standard” for missionary work in the world.
No Accidental Missionary is foremost about the hand of God’s Spirit through the Word changing the life of a man, his relatives and friends, and through him, the lives of countless others. It is readable: I struggled to turn it off when other matters called. It is relatable: even though his life experiences have not been mine, I followed along with him in a personal way. And it is inspirational: for those in Christian faith and those wishing to know how the “Christian God” works in His people.
I recommend this book for meaningful reading and reflection to both clergy and laity. As Dr. Scudieri mentioned to Tesfai, “God has done amazing things with you.” Indeed, continues to do so today! God works in each of us differently, and a story such as this one of Tesfai Tesema brings excitement, joy and hope to all readers, as the Gospel works in our lives.

Rev. John Wm Stieve

No accidentall missionary

The story is very inspirational and interesting to listen to. The Narrator was excellent. Look forward to Hearing more books like this by the narrator.

An edifying Christian biography

This is a great story demonstrating how steadfast one can be in doing God's work. I really liked the unrelenting drive of Dr. Tesfai in spreading the Gospel of Christ, despite the many odds he had to surmount. There are no dislikes I had for this book. It would be an aspiring read for Christians, and I highly recommend it for young ministers as there is a lot to learn from Dr. Tesfai Tesema's missionary activities.

How Christianity Spreads

We are familiar with names like St. Peter and St. Paul, who spread Christianity to the Roman Empire; St. Thomas, who brought it to the Far East;, and St. Patrick, in Ireland. We are familiar with stories of persecution and adventure, of larger-than-life personalities. Here is a modern example of how that kind of spread of a movement transcends continents and cultures. Like many of the heroes of Christian history, Tesema, did not start out as a believer, but once he became committed to the movement his personality catapulted him into situations of danger and adventure. Tesema's story would not be complete without the documentation of the marriage of two extrovert believers whose lives came together in the middle of their adventures. The husband/wife team is reminiscent of Aquila and Priscilla, a marital team which gained Biblical recognition, although we know little of their adventure.

The use of different English dialects in the reading of the audio book put me off at first, but once underway it heightened the drama. There was a bit of lag in interest with the introduction of church politics, but for the sake of honesty that is an unfortunate element of church history that was not omitted in the Biblical account, and must be preserved now.

I highly recommend listening to this story about how evangelism takes place in a hostile modern world.