Ethiopia is a strategic place for Christian mission in Africa. It has long-standing severe problems of poverty, drought, hunger and war. It is a place for religious diversity that presents great challenges and opportunities for mission. What struck me most about the Addis Kidan Baptist Church was their youthfulness, their vision for mission inside Ethiopia and beyond, and their energy to serve Christ in difficult circumstances. We saw vibrant, growing churches from the slums of Addis Ababa to rural villages. God is clearly moving among these people! We also heard a rich range of indigenous church music. For the three trips I’ve taken to Ethiopia as well as worshipping with Ethiopians for many years in the U.S. I’ve never heard a song I knew from English—until the last night when our hosts tried to sing “We Are One in the Spirit” but couldn’t remember the words! That is a sign of worship creativity, cultural pride and fresh moving of the Spirit of God.

For me, working in the area of conflict transformation, I was encouraged that pastors had taken the skills gained in my training program in October and put them to use. They reported on how helpful those skills had been and were eager to learn more. The conflicts include the regular conflicts of church, family and community we all face, but the Ethiopian Baptists are also facing persecution and even violent confrontation with some Muslims and Orthodox Christians. Many Ethiopian evangelicals have experienced hardship under the current government, and war with neighboring Eritrea and in Somalia keeps their society in constant ferment. Church leaders are looking for ways they can be witnesses for reconciliation across our human lines of division. They are eager to learn and to put their lessons into practice.

-- Dan Buttry