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Shek Hamed Adem, an Ethiopian Christian who was severely beaten and hanged on a cross by Muslims on July 5 |
Ethiopia to be Featured in Upcoming Newsletter
- Current Ministry Project
VOMC has partnered with a ministry to strengthen the witness of the local church by equipping evangelists with the means to build sustainability through the development of a small business in a tentmaker project.
Project Fund: Relief and Development
- Country Information
Population
116,462,712 (2023 est.)Ethnicity (%)
Oromo (35.8), Amara (24.1), Somali (7.2), Tigray (5.7), Sidama (4.1), Guragie (2.6), Welaita (2.3), Afar (2.2), Silte (1.3), Kefficho (1,2), Other (13.5) (2022 est.)Religion (%)
Ethiopian Orthodox (43.8), Muslim (31.3), Protestant (22.8), Catholic (0.7), traditional (0.6), other (0.8)Leader
President Taye Atske Selassie (2024)Government type
Federal parliamentary republicLegal system
Civil law systemSource: CIA World Factbook
- Pray for Ethiopia
Ask the Lord to direct Ethiopia's governmental leaders as they continue to work toward solutions to the ongoing religious tensions in the country. While this is taking place, pray that His people will not become weary in doing what is right. Rather, may they be further strengthened and encouraged to boldly proclaim the Gospel, overcoming hatred with the powerful love of Christ.
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Ethiopia News
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Orthodox Villages Attacked by Militant Muslims
Orthodox worshippers in Ethiopia.
Photo: Unsplash / Abanezer ShewagaFor more than 1,400 years, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has coexisted with Muslim communities in a unique truce with only occasional tension between them. (This long-standing relationship traces back to the year 615, when the King of Aksum granted asylum to a group of early Muslims.) Any subsequent religious opposition in Ethiopia has primarily been between adherents of one of these two religions and those belonging to other groups, including evangelical Christians. In recent months, however, there has been a troubling shift. Militant Islamic groups have reportedly begun targeting Orthodox Christian communities, particularly in areas of the country that are now primarily Muslim.
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Christian Workers Attacked While Constructing Church
This man was attacked while building a church.
Photo: VOM InternationalOn April 7th, a group of Christians were working to construct a church building when they were violently attacked by a mob of Muslim militants. Armed with machetes, the attackers attempted to stop the construction, wounding several of the workers who were present.
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Open-Air Evangelists Attacked
These Christian evangelists were attacked
while preaching the Gospel.On February 9th, two Christian evangelists were attacked by Muslim militants while preaching within an open-air market in central Ethiopia. As a result of the incident, both men suffered severe head injuries and thereby had to be transported to a local hospital. Details surrounding their current conditions have not yet been released at the time of publishing this report.
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Attacked Church Seeks New Meeting Location
The remains of the church building.
Photo: VOMC Ministry PartnerOn July 29th, a small congregation in Ethiopia was attacked by hostile community members who were opposed to the church's presence in their village. During the incident, the attackers dismantled the simple shelter where the Christians had been meeting, and then they proceeded to steal its structural materials. (For more details about this incident, see this report.)
