Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most ancient countries. It is widely accepted that the Queen of Sheba mentioned in the Bible brought the religion of the Jews back with her to Ethiopia. Coptic Christianity became the state religion in 330 AD.

Lutheran missionaries from Northern Europe first arrived in Ethiopia in the late 19^th century. In 1959 the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) was incorporated as a national church affiliated with the Lutheran World Federation. The Lutheran Church of Ethiopia (LCE) was founded as a confessional Lutheran Church body in 2012 by Dr. Kebede Yigezu Getachew, who left the EECMY for doctrinal reasons. After several years of talks with WELS representatives, the LCE and WELS declared fellowship at synod convention in 2017. WELS is supporting the LCE’s work of training church workers by providing funding to help complete construction of a building for Maor Lutheran Seminary and also sending professors on short-term teaching trips. With support from WELS Multi-Language Productions, the LCE has also produced multiple gospel tracts in Amharic, the principal language of Ethiopia.

Pray for this young and growing band of believers ministering among a nation that is nominally Christian but with very few churches that proclaim God’s word in its truth and purity. May God use our partnership to build his kingdom in Ethiopia!

Fast Facts

• Baptized national members: 421
• Organized congregations: 1
• Preaching centers: 4
• National pastors: 1
• National evangelists: 4