Ethiopia
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News
Request for prayers for the Anyuwaa people in the Gambella Region of Ethiopia have been received with regard to attacks carried out by unidentified assailants upon several villages. These attacks involve the killing of people, the abduction of children, and the stealing of property. Pray for the end of violence, the restoration of the children, and healing for the communities. 4/14/16
Feb 2016 Following a few weeks of heightened tensions between the Anywaa and Nuer people of the Gambella region in western Ethiopia, fighting has broken out between the two groups in Gambella town. Many Anywaa and some Nuer have been killed. Mr. Okello Oluch, President of the East Gambella Bethel Synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) reports that over 300 Anywaa people are taking refuge in the synod's walled compound where there is space to sleep under the stars and have access to clean water.
Please pray for lasting peace. Pray that the leaders of the EECMY, a multi-ethnic denomination, will be instrumental in bringing reason and easing tensions to the situation.—Rachel Weller, PC(USA) mission co-worker serving with the EECMY
Read about mission co-worker Brenda Stelle's work among the young people at Bethel Evangelical Secondary School (BESS), where the number of young women being educated is rising.
Read about Rev. Stephen Stelle, teaching at Gidada Bible School in Ethiopia, where students learn not only to be ministers but are trained for community transformation.
U.S. Presbyterians stand in prayer and solidarity with Ethiopian Christians
Injured mission co-workers have safely returned home to Kansas
Gwen and John Haspels, second-generation mission co-workers who spent more than 40 years planting churches and doing community development work in remote areas of Africa, have safely returned home to Halstead, Kan., to continue medical treatment and recuperation. They retired from service June 30, 2015.
Global Leadership scholarships assist promising leaders
Rich Hansen writes about a new intentional disciple-making process
Anuak Bible is poised for completion, a tribute to the work of Breezy Lusted, colleagues
Background
Presbyterian work in Ethiopia dates back to 1918. Regent Haile Selassie, soon to become king, invited the Presbyterian Church to come into the country to help with the great 1918–19 worldwide flu epidemic. Dr. Lamby, a Presbyterian missionary in the Sudan responded, established the present hospital in Dembidollo, and the school and church there. He went on to establish hospitals in Addis Ababa, which became the Pasteur Institute then the Pasteur Research Institute (for infectious diseases). Another of the hospitals became the world-renowned ALERT (Africa Leprosy Research and Training Center). He is still looked upon as a national hero. Later Haile Selassie, in the early 1960s, also invited the Presbyterian Church to send missionaries to two remote provinces of southwest Ethiopia in what was known as the Illababour-Kaffa project.
A number of long-term Presbyterian missionaries have continued the ministry in this area through the years. The PC(USA)’s partner church, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), includes 17 synods, five of which (each with “Bethel” in their name) are Presbyterian. Other synods have Lutheran and Reformed Church backgrounds.
Partner churches and organizations
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY)
Bethel Synods Coordination Office
Eastern Gambela Synod
Illubabor Bethel Synod
Southwest Bethel Synod
Western Gambela Bethel Synod
Western Wollega Bethel Synod
Partner institutions
Bethel Evangelical Secondary School
Berhane Yesus Elementary School
Bethel Mekane Yesus School
Mekane Yesus Seminary
Recommended projects/institutions to support
Baale Outreach project
Gidada Bible School
Bethel Mekane Yesus School
Bethel Evangelical Secondary School
Charles Haspels Bible School
EECMY Student Ministry
EECMY Evangelism Program
Presbytery partnerships
Shenandoah Presbytery
Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley
Washington Presbytery
Ethiopia Mission Network
The Ethiopia Mission Network is among more than 40 networks that connect Presbyterians who share a common mission interest. Most participants are involved in mission partnerships through congregations, presbyteries or synods. Network members come together to coordinate efforts, share best practices and develop strategies.
- For information contact Giny Roundy
Learn more about Ethiopia
ECOs for promotion
Visit the BBC country profile.
