The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) was formed in 1959 as a merger of Swedish, German, Norwegian, and North American Lutheran missions. Mekane Yesus means “dwelling place of Jesus” in Ge’ez, Ethiopia’s ancient church language.

“The EECMY is a peace church and has joined hands with other Christians and Muslims in the name of peace!” writes PC(USA) mission co-worker Brian Gilchrest. EECMY is actively seeking to build loving, enduring relationships based on mutual respect with other faith communities while struggling hand-in-hand for a just peace and in recognition of the dignity of all humanity regardless of gender, class, faith, or nationality. As the Rev. Iteffa Gobena, president of the EECMY, has stated, “Those who profess a faith different from ours are not foreigners or strangers; they are our brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles, and they are fellow Ethiopians.”

Mission co-workers Michael and Rachel Weller work with the Western Wollega Bethel Synod of the EECMY. With a grant from the Presbyterian Hunger Program, they helped a small community of Majangir people make the transition from a forest to a more sustainable life as farmers.

The Wellers write, “One morning a Majangir woman, along with her two small children, came into our community. She shared that she had been thrown out of her own home by her husband, who wanted a different wife. For safety she fled her village. For three days and three nights she and her children wandered through the forest. They were hungry, thirsty, tired, and very scared. On that last night the woman cried out in a desperate prayer, ‘Jesus, I don’t really know you, but I have heard of your name, and those who know you say that you are a God who delivers and saves. Deliver me and my children and I will be yours.’ The next morning she found our village, and the elders of this congregation said to this woman, ‘Let us tell you more about this Jesus who saves.’” Michael concludes, “Because we were able to plant corn, we planted a community, and because a community was planted, we were able to plant a congregation.”

Partners/Ministries
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY): Rev. Iteffa Gobena, president, Rev. Dr. Wakseyoum Idossa, general secretary • Illubabor Bethel Synod: Rev. Yadeta Kirita, president • Eastern Gambella Bethel Synod: Ato Ojud Miru, president • Southwest Bethel Synod: Rev. Yohannes Sherab, president • Western Gambela Bethel Synod: Rev. David Thok Lam, president • Western Wollega Bethel Synod: Rev. Teferi Barkessa, president • Bethel Mekane Yesus School: Rev. Teferi Teressa, director • Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology: Rev. Dr. Debela Birri, president • Bethel Synod Coordination Office: Rev. Solomon Nega, coordinator • Bethel Evangelical Secondary School (BESS) • Berhane Yesus Elementary School: Ato Thomas Nano, president • Presbytery Partnerships: Presbytery of Shenandoah, Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley, and Washington Presbytery with the EECMY

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Arthur P. Baxter, OGA
Cynthia Beach, BOP