Report on Ethiopia: Part Three

The following report is based on personal observation, interviews with Bishop Grant LeMarquand, and quite a shameless amount of "plagiarism" from various reports written by a new and dear friends from Egypt, Rosie Fyfe, who work with Bishop Mouneer in the Diocese of Egypt, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa.

I will be posting these in bite sized chunks...so if you come in on some part of the tail end, please scroll down to the beginning...

Unfortunately, there will be no images, but, if you go to my Face Book site (https://www.facebook.com/johann.vanderbijl?ref=tn_tnmn) you will find pictures galore.

As always, please pray for the Horn.

4.  Churches outside the Gambella Region, but in Ethiopia

SHERKOLE REFUGEE CAMP

Sherkole Refugee Camp, located in the north of Gambella, opened in 1997. There are currently 7,764 people and 2,817 households in the camp. This refugee camp is made up of Mabaan, Arabic, Dafurian, Nubian, and Dinka people groups. 

The priest-in-charge is the Rev. Isaac Momma. St. John’s is a Mabaan congregation, a Sudanese people group, many of whom are now being repatriated to South Sudan. The Mabaan are acknowledged by all to be the best singers in Gambella.

 Christ the King Church is a Dinka congregation, served by Deacon Gabriel. The Dinka are the largest people group in South Sudan.

TONGO MISSION CENTRE

The Tongo Mission Centre is a Nuer congregation and is situated just north of the Sherkole refugee camp.  The priest-in-charge is the Rev. William Deng.

MEKELE STUDENT CHURCH

Mekele is a city in the Tigre Region, in the North of Ethiopia. The congregation is made up of approximately 70 university students, and the services are in English. Many are from Gambella, but there is also a substantial number from South Sudan.  The congregation started in 2013, when the students contacted the Area Bishop for the Horn of Africa requesting to become part of the Anglican Church. The congregation meets in the church building of the Mekane Yesus denomination.

ST MATTHEW’S CHURCH IN ADDIS ABABA

St Matthew’s Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, provides Anglican worship and ministry to a very diverse international community. On an average Sunday, it is common to have over 20 nationalities at our Sunday services, from all over Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and America. Addis Ababa has a large number of foreign embassies, and is also the home of the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa.  Consequently there is a great diversity of people living here. The main services at St Matthew's are in English, but there are also services in Amharic and Somali.