Education Consultants, Ethiopia
Bruce & Lora Whearty
Their teaching skills have been honed
in the public school classrooms in their
native Montana and in a Presbyterian school
in Vanuatu where they served as PC(USA)
missionaries from 1992 to 1994 and from 2002
to 2005. Their call to mission service has been
sensed in their everyday lives as disciples of
Jesus Christ.
“I grew up in wonder and gratitude for
all of God’s creation,” Bruce says. “My call to
mission service grows out of that gratitude. Mission is really just a wish to share joy and peace
and wonder with those who need it, to use my gifts in teaching in response to God’s love.”
Bruce and Lora will be living on the campus of a girls' school in the capital city of Addis Ababa.
The institution is a ministry of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (meaning “Home
of Jesus”). Lora will be teaching English and Bruce will be training teachers.
“Being called to mission is God’s way of expressing to me that I am beloved,” Lora says.
“What a remarkable gift, to be asked to go to a place of wonder such as Ethiopia and work to
improve the lives of young women.”
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you and remember, I am with you always to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Ethiopia’s long, proud history and its vibrant, growing church make it a place of wonder
indeed, but its poverty and low literacy rate create great challenges. Only 25 percent of the
children attend school and an acute shortage of teachers puts the teacher/student ratio at
1 to 42.
Bruce, who is finishing a doctorate at the University of Louisville, will be writing his
dissertation on teacher training in Ethiopia. He hopes his work will help streamline the teacher
training process and make it more effective. “My overall goal is to work myself out of a job,” he
laughs, “but that’s not likely to happen in the next few years.”
Lora is excited about contributing to the development of young women. “For me to have a
hand in empowering them to gain a voice and place in leadership is a gift beyond all measure,”
she says. “I am blessed by God to have heard this call.”
Projected Annual Costs for Bruce and Lora Whearty
(estimated as of 1/31/08)
The cost of a three-year term for the Wheartys is projected to be $274,050. This will
cover salaries for both Bruce and Lora, benefits, housing, travel and other needs.
Bruce and Lora Whearty stand ready to serve God. But they need your help. She needs your financial support as indicated above.
To make a pledge to Joining Hearts & Hands, a campaign to renew the Presbyterian Church for mission, call (888) 728-7228 x5611 or click on the donate button.
Download this flier to print 
Contributions can be sent by mail to:
Presbyterian Church, Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
You may designate your contribution for Bruce and Lora by including her name on the memo of your check along with the following identification number MI910082.
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