The good news of Jesus Christ was first brought to southwest Ethiopia in 1952. People responded and the church took root. Since then its growth has outpaced its ability to train leaders. In response, a Bible school was proposed in 1994. Construction began in April 1997 and classes in 1999.

A part of the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology, Mekane Yesus Theological Seminary is a post-secondary institution offering a Diploma in Theology as well as a Bachelor’s of Theology degree. It has an enrollment of approximately 100 in the B.Th. program.

Afar. Work among the 1.1 million Afar people of northeast Ethiopia , who are 99.2 percent Muslim.

Eastern (Muslim) Oromo. Evangelists establishing congregations in the strongly Muslim region of Eastern Ethiopia .

Shekicho. Outreach among the Shekicho people of Ethiopia , which has resulted in 20,000 believers since 1991.

Surma, Deze. The establshment of an initial Christian community and plans for developments in water provision, agriculture, primary health work, literacy and Bible translation.

Surma Bible Translation in Ethiopia

This translation work is just in the beginning stages. The first 100 Surma people were baptized in just the past few years, and it is imperative to provide the new believers with Scriptures as they seek to establish a permanent, indigenous church.

Southwest Bethel Synod Community Health Program, Mizan Tefari

The Mizan area is reaching its population limit. The disease pattern in Mizan is typical of most developing nations, and there is a general lack of primary health services. In 1996 the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus began developing a community health program to combat and overcome serious but avoidable health problems in the area.

The Surma Comprehensive Rural Development Project grew out of problems caused by droughts in 1985 and 1988 in southwest Ethiopia, bordering on Sudan. The components of the project include agriculture, health, education, road building and water. A clinic was constructed in 1994 and a primary health program has been started.