1. Become a Master Builder
The Exciting Promise of the Church in Ethiopia
The Exciting Opportunity to Foster its Future
Become a Master Builder

3. History of Christianity in Ethiopia
Historically Ethiopia has been a predominantly Christian nation
It is the first African nation to include Christian, Islam and Judaic faiths.
Currently 50% of Ethiopia is Christian (14% Protestant, 80% Orthodox), 45% is Muslim.
Challenges:
Ethiopia has 67 tribes, 87 distinct languages and over 200 dialects.
It is one of the poorest nations in the world, ranking 170 out of the 177 national economies.
Civil and religious strife are rampant.

4. Ethiopia: the good, bad and unique
Excellent marathon and track athletes
Ancient churches and historical sites
Coffee
BAD
Drought
Civil war
UNIQUE
Ethiopic calendar & Ethiopic Scripts

5. LUTHERANISM IN ETHIOPIA
Peter Heyling sent from the German Lutheran Church (1633)
Swedish Evangelical Mission (1865)
German Hermannsburg Mission (1927)
Norwegian Lutheran Mission
Danish Lutheran Mission
Finish Lutheran Mission
American Lutheran Mission
ELCA
LCMS

6. A new day for Lutheranism in Ethiopia: a native Lutheran church no longer a mission
The birth of the Mekane Yesus Church (1959)
Mekane Yesus means “the dwelling of Jesus.”
Mekane Yesus Church firmly rooted in the confessions and in confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
It formed with just 10,000 members

7. The Remarkable Growth Led by the Spirit
Most rapidly Growing Lutheran Church with nearly 400,000 members added every year. Now includes 4,000,000 souls
Congregational organization that is facilitated by national level leadership.
Seminary and Graduate Seminary with three regional campuses and 42 bible schools and theological centers.
5,800 established congregations
1,800 ordained Lutheran pastors, 1,788 evangelists, 335,729 volunteers and over 2,000 mission stations or outreach posts

8. Disease challenges Ethiopian families
Malaria
KEY MALARIA FACTS  IN ETHIOPIA (UNICEF)
• Estimated Number people living with malaria: 52 million
• Estimated number of new malaria cases per year: 11 million
• Number of people dying in a 9-month malaria epidemic in
2003: 114,000

9. HIV/AIDS HIV Infected persons: 1.5 million
AIDS Deaths: over 70,000/year
HIV positive pregnancy in 2007: 75,000
AIDS Orphans: 900,000 (2007)
Total orphans 5,441,556
Total street kids over 10,000,000

10. Other challenges Political instability Economical crisis
Tension with bordering nations
Islamic fundamentalism (Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Yemen, Eritrea)
Urbanization
Famine, drought and green drought

11. Master Builder Association SERVICES to Orphans
MBA Helps Children Who Lost Their Parents Due To:
HIV/Aids
Civil War
Malaria And Others
This Ministry Now in its 3rd Year

12. SUPPORT
Most support for MBC’s Mission comes from people like you who realize the harvest is plentiful
It also comes from
Lutheran churches in the U.S.
Technical and logistic support from the national churches in Africa including Mekane Yesus.
Foundations

13. help the workers to carry it out
Missions of MBC
“Feeding His Lambs”
Assisting seminary students in Ethiopia to be His shepherds
Fostering self-sustaining ministries and enabling them to plant new ministries.
Establishing prayer partners
Encouraging partners to visit Ethiopia to experience the promise and the opportunity for themselves
Reaching churches, donors, friends, family members, companies and other organizations to partner in the mission.
Helping volunteers to become fellow shepherds in this ministry.
The harvest is great,
help the workers to carry it out