Pray for Ethiopia

In August of this year Tigrayan rebel forces took control of Lalibela, a town in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. This UNESCO world heritage site is home to 11 medieval churches that are carved out of rock and date from the 12th and 13th Centuries.

 

The above image depicts the multitude of Ethiopian Christian pilgrims that gather at the site every Christmas.

 

Ethiopia has been in a state of civil war for the last year. On Nov 4, 2020, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) launched a planned war on the Ethiopian Government. As well as controlling Lalibela, these rebels have captured the strategic towns of Dessie and Kombolcha. Fierce fighting continues and the Amhara Region has declared a state of emergency. Furthermore, it has been reported that the TPLF and OLA (Oromo Liberation Army) are now poised to advance on the Ethiopian capital, Addis Abada.

 

What does this mean for Ethiopian Christians?

The collapse of Ethiopia would herald a Christian crisis of monumental proportions as the TPLF and OLA would move with genocidal intent against the Christian ethnic Amhara. In October 2020 the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) warned that the fragmentation of Ethiopia (population 105 million) would be ‘the largest state collapse in modern history’, and would likely lead to ‘mass inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflict’ [code for a genocidal war against Amhara Christians].

 

For more information see: Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin,
’Ethiopia: Christian Crisis Looms as Rebels Advance’, 3 Nov 2021

Please pray that God will:

  • draw Ethiopians and Christians throughout the world onto their knees for the nation of Ethiopia – an ancient nation of great geo-strategic significance, and missions powerhouse!  

  • protect and sustain his precious Church in Ethiopia – the ancient Orthodox, the Catholics and Protestants which includes ever increasing numbers of converts from Islam -- as we recognise that this is first and foremost a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12). 

  • protect our brother Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed and his government and grace them with divine wisdom, discernment, courage and strength to deliver justice and turn back the battle (Isaiah 28:5-6).