4 Leadership training was severely restricted under Communism

a) Post-graduate training at the Ethiopian Graduate School in Addis Ababa

b) The degree-level training

c) The numerous Bible Schools run by denominations all over the country

d) The network of evening and short-term Bible schools and TEE programmes

5 The Muslim advance. Muslims have launched a massive campaign for the Islamization of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is strategically vital for both Islam and Christianity

6 The less evangelized

a) The predominantly Orthodox Amhara and Tigray regions in the north have few evangelical churches

b) The largely Muslim Somali (Dire Dawa), Harari and Afar regions in the east

c) Many sections of Oromia – especially in the east and south are strongly Muslim

d) The numerous peoples of the southwest bordering on Sudan are isolated, some being nomadic

e) Sudanese refugees from the vicious fighting in the south of that land

7 Young people need purpose and hope in life

8 Foreign mission workers were reduced in numbers during the Marxist revolution, but are now free to minister, though their number is smaller than before

9 Bible translation is a major task to be accomplished

10 Christian help ministries

a) Literature

b) Aviation

c) AIDS ministries

d) Radio

Politics

Probably one of the oldest nations known with a long written history.

Religion

North Ethiopia was one of the first Christian nations – from the 4^th Century.

Churches in Ethiopia

Missionaries from Ethiopia

482+ in 11 agencies to 7 countries

Missionaries to Ethiopia

669 in 60 agencies from 23 countries

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Geography

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Area 1,106,000 sq.km. Fertile mountain plateau surrounded by the drought-prone lowlands and deserts of the Red Sea coast, and borders on Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya and Sudan.

Population (2000) 62,564,875 +2.48%AGR

Capital Addis Ababa 2,650,000.

Peoples

Semitic Origin 45%; Cushitic 42.2%; Omotic 11.3%; Nilo-Sudanic 1.2%.

Literacy 36%. National working language Amharic; 65% of population are able to speak it. Regional languages are important. All languages 86. Languages with Scriptures 6Bi 12NT 4por 20w.i.p. (6-OT, 14NT).

Economy

The main export is coffee – believed to have originated in Ethiopia. Unemployment over 35%. HDI 0.298; 172^nd/174. Public debt 157% of GNP. Income/person $100 (0.4% of USA).

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