Missionary activities of the Christian churches in the South Ethiopia

Abstract

Personal contacts and connections for the mission in the Southern Ethiopia are key, and building relationships with village elders is a priority for missionaries. If the Ethiopian Church and Catholics take a rather wait-and-see position then Protestants strive for an active mission. Protestants’ appeal to people of low status in the tribes led to the perception of Christianity as a social stigma. Currently, missionaries are trying to direct their efforts to people of authority in the tribes. Christian missionaries, in addition to providing new meaning to life, offer converts the means to survive and the opportunity to integrate into modern society, primarily through education. Educational projects are the most successful initiative for missionaries and the most productive way to build relationships with elders. Churches engaged in mission can implement joint projects and interact but there is more conflict between churches than unity. The Christian mission in the South Ethiopia that has undoubted successes and achievements faces a number of serious problems, primarily related to the clash of different ideological paradigms that gives rise to conflicts and tensions. Protestantism that has the potential of a “supraethnic” project hasn’t yet realized this possibility.