Ethiopia: Day Two - Addis

by Frank Dimmock

After spending the early morning at the ARRA (Refugee coordination office) to successfully gain permission to visit schools in three of the Gambella camps, I traveled to the EECMY Mekane Yesus Seminary. I had the opportunity to meet with the Seminary President Rev. Dr. Bruk Ayele (PhD). The Ethiopian Evangelical Church, Mekane Yesus is a large Presbyterian partner with over 9.3 million members. There are fewer than 4,000 trained pastors serving in 14,000 congregations and preaching places across Ethiopia. There are 32 Synods of the denomination.

The seminary faces huge challenges in training sufficient numbers of new pastors to meet the growth of the church. In addition to the main seminary campus, there are four regional seminaries, ten diploma-level training schools and numerous Bible schools throughout the country. The seminary students must pay tuition. Raising scholarship support and maintaining adequate staff and lecturers are among Dr. Bruk’s greatest challenges. Leadership training at Masters and post-graduate level is essential in the developing church.

I was pleased to meet Lam Nhial Luak, one of several students supported through The Outreach Foundation. Lam is entering his fourth year and is already looking forward to congregational ministry.

I will return to the airport tomorrow to try and retrieve my missing suitcase.

Pictured are Dr. Bruk Ayele (right) and Haile Sadins Sabab (Phd student in U.S.) at the Ethiopia Mission network meeting in April and Lam Nhial Luak at the seminary. Other students were in exams or absent.

Frank Dimmock
Africa Mission Specialist