|
26th April 2009 |
||
|
Pray for Ethiopia
A fertile mountain plateau surrounded by the drought-prone lowlands and deserts of the Red Sea coast, and borders on Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya and Sudan. The main export is coffee — believed to have originated in Ethiopia. Periodic droughts and the 1998-2000 war with Eritrea have slowed economic development.
The population of Ethiopia is 85 million. There are 65% Christian and 31% Muslim. North Ethiopia was one of the first Christian nations — from the 4th Century. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church became the State Church from 1270 until the 1974 revolution. The Marxist regime persecuted Christians, especially Evangelicals, with many church buildings destroyed and congregations scattered. Since 1991 there has been unprecedented freedom for worship and witness. The government seeks to deal even-handedly with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the increasingly active and growing Muslim minority. |
 |
|
 |
Praise God for the thrilling growth of the Protestant churches since 1936. Two great waves of violent persecution under the Italians in 1936-41 and the Communists in 1974-1990 refined and purified the church, but there were many martyrs. Vision, sacrificial evangelism and courageous witness have characterised Evangelicals of all denominations. There have been great seasons of harvest with millions coming to Christ, the greatest being since the failure and collapse of Communism.
|
|