From High School Student to Vice President: Frey’s Global Impact
In the busy capital city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where 80% of the community is Muslim and over half the population consists of teenagers, Fireselam, known affectionately as Frey, leads one of the most challenging yet rewarding Young Life ministries in the world. Her journey from a curious high school student to the first Vice President of Young Life's Ethiopia geography is a testament to not only her faith, but her leadership as well!
The Seed of Faith
Frey's faith story begins not with her own encounter with Jesus, but with her older sister Emebet's faith story. When Emebet discovered God's love and began following Christ, she couldn't keep this life-changing revelation to herself. She began sharing about Christ within their household, planting seeds of curiosity and hope in her family's hearts.
The turning point came when Emebet extended a simple invitation to her younger sister: "Come to church with me." That invitation would prove to be the catalyst for everything that followed. In that church service, Frey encountered Jesus personally and made the decision to begin her own relationship with Christ. Yet, like many new believers, she found herself in a place of beautiful uncertainty; she had said yes to Jesus, but she didn't know what came next.
"I had accepted Jesus Christ but I didn't know how to follow him," Frey reflects on those early days of her faith. This honest confession captures the experience of many new believers.
Enter Young Life:
Just three months into her Christian walk, Frey heard about Young Life through a leader who visited her school. Intrigued and eager to grow in her newfound faith, she decided to check it out. What she discovered was exactly what her young heart needed—a community of leaders who were not only friendly and welcoming but genuinely invested in helping her understand what it meant to follow Jesus.
Young Life didn't just offer Frey religious activities or theological discussions; it provided practical discipleship (and fun!). The leaders taught her fundamental spiritual disciplines that would become the bedrock of her faith journey. They showed her how to have quiet time with God each morning, how to read her Bible meaningfully, and how to pray with intention. Most importantly, they helped her understand that following Christ wasn't about following rules or rituals, but was about being invited into a personal relationship with the living God.
"The leaders were able to help me know how to follow him and it's about Christ inviting me to a personal relationship," Frey explains. The understanding that Christianity is fundamentally relational rather than merely religious became the cornerstone of her understanding of faith and would later influence how she would lead others.
From Receiver to Giver
After experiencing firsthand how Young Life leaders had invested in her spiritual growth, she felt called to become a leader herself. In 2002, she began as a volunteer leader. This transition from participant to leader illustrates one of Young Life's most beautiful dynamics: the way it creates a cycle of investment and multiplication. Frey didn't just benefit from Young Life's ministry; she became part of it, ensuring that the same transformative experience she had received would be available to the next generation of teenagers.
Her volunteer leadership experience was so fulfilling and effective that she eventually joined Young Life staff, embarking on a career that would span decades and multiple leadership roles. From Area Director to Regional Director, each position allowed her to expand her influence while staying true to the core mission that had first captured her heart as a high school student.
Leading in a Complex Context
Frey's current role as Vice President of the Ethiopia geography places her at the helm of ministry in one of the most culturally and religiously diverse contexts in the Young Life world. Leading Young Life in a community that is 80% Muslim requires not just administrative skill but deep cultural sensitivity, unwavering faith, and the ability to navigate complex interfaith dynamics while staying true to the gospel message.
The demographic reality that over half of Ethiopia's population consists of teenagers presents both an incredible opportunity and a significant challenge. While there are more potential Young Life participants than in many other regions, reaching them requires innovative approaches and culturally relevant ministry strategies.
Under Frey's leadership, Young Life Ethiopia has learned to operate with both boldness and respect, sharing the love of Christ in ways that honor the cultural context while never compromising the transformative message of the gospel.
The Multiplication Effect
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Frey's story is how Young Life's investment in her has multiplied exponentially. The teenager who once didn't know how to follow Jesus is now responsible for training volunteer leaders, serving as a liaison to local churches, and overseeing Young Life ministry across an entire nation. She has become a prayer warrior, an administrator, and an advocate for the love of Jesus.
Frey's involvement in the Women's Leadership Accelerator program further demonstrates this multiplication principle. Not only did she benefit from the program's focus on developing female leaders, but she also became a trainer herself, helping other women discover their leadership potential and find their voice in ministry contexts where women are often overlooked or undervalued.
A Living Testament
Today, Frey’s story illustrates how investing in one teenager can ultimately impact thousands of others. From her sister's faithful witness to her own encounter with Young Life leaders, from her years as a volunteer to her current role as a national leader, every chapter of her journey demonstrates the profound, lasting impact that Young Life can have on both individuals and communities. It's a reminder that in God's economy, no act of faithful witness is too small, and no young person is beyond the reach of transformative love.
In a world where young people are often dismissed or overlooked, Frey's story stands as a powerful reminder that teenagers are not just the church of tomorrow—they are the church of today, capable of incredible faith, leadership, and impact when given the right foundation and support. Frey is leading so many, encouraging a new generation of Young Life staff and leaders, not just in Ethiopia, but across the global Young Life ministry!