 Mr. Fikru Aligaz moved to the United States in 1980 through a refugee resettlement program. The same year he received the Lord in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. There he became a founding member of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Washington, DC. As an outgrowth of his experience in the church, Mr. Aligaz moved to Olathe, KS to pursue a degree in Church Music at Mid America Nazarene University. He received his BA in 1990.
While he was a student, Mr. Aligaz helped found the Ethiopian Christian Fellowship in Olathe, KS and served on the board of elders for four years. He also served as a Minister of Music and formed the first choir; he led praise & worship music for Sunday services.
In April 1992, Mr. Aligaz founded Bethel Music Ministry to reach out primarily the Ethiopian Community in United States and, proclaim Christ as the Savior through music to strengthen and enrich the spiritual life of its members and bring non-believers into His kingdom.
Mr. Aligaz traveled extensively all over the United States at the invitation of the local churches. He has supported, through music, the work of the annual Chicago conference (Ethiopian Evangelical Christian Association). Later he was also given the responsibility of directing the "United Choir". In August 1997, Fikru finished his appointment at E.E.C.A. to be able to concentrate on Bethel Music Ministry. He has recorded one solo and four instrumental gospel albums.
In May 1998, for the first time through the support and cooperation of eleven Ethiopian Evangelical Churches from eleven cities in nine states, Bethel Music Ministry has been able to assemble a thirty-six members "Bethel Praise and Worship Choir".
Mr. and Mrs. Aligaz reside in Olathe, KS with their beautiful daughters Lydia, Sharon and their son Emmanuel F. Aligaz. Lydia Aligaz is first year in college, she loves playing the piano, reading, writing, singing and helping around the house. |
