Difference between revisions of "Meserete Kristos Church, Ethiopia"
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| − | The '''Meserete Kristos Church (MKC)''' is the primary Anabaptist-related group in Ethiopia. In 2009 MKC had 172,299 members in 484 congregations.<ref name="mwc"/> As of 2009, Meserete Kristos Church is the largest national Anabaptist conference in the world.<ref name>Sandra Joireman, ''Church, State and Citizen'' (Oxford:Oxford University Press, 2009), 86.</ref> | + | The '''Meserete Kristos Church (MKC)''' is the primary Anabaptist-related group in Ethiopia. In 2009 MKC had 172,299 members in 484 congregations scattered across all 18 Administrative Regions of Ethiopia.<ref name="mwc"/> In addition to the 484 official Meserete Kristos Church congregations, there are also 834 congregation planting centers. <ref>Meserete Kristos College. "Why Meserete Kristos College." http://www.mkcollege.org/Why-Mk-College.html. web (accessed July 8,2010)</ref> As of 2009, Meserete Kristos Church is the largest national Anabaptist conference in the world.<ref name>Sandra Joireman, ''Church, State and Citizen'' (Oxford:Oxford University Press, 2009), 86.</ref> |
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The Meserete Kristos Church grew out of work in 1948 by Mennonite Central Committee and Eastern Mennonite Mission. <ref name="NonformalTheologicalEducation">Bedru H. Muktar, "Non-formal Theological Education: The Meserete Kristos Church Experience," ''Mission Focus''. http://ambs.edu/files/documents/news-and-publications/publications/mf/Mission_Focus_Vol_5.pdf#page=24.</ref> In 1982, the Marxist government confiscated all of Meserete Kristos' offices, worship buildings, bank accounts and physical property. While the church leaders were arrested, church members took it upon themselves to hold church services in private. There was always the constant risk of police raids so members communicated by word of mouth and the number of people per service was limited.<ref>Wilbert Shenk, "New Wineskins for New Wine: Toward a Post-Christendom | The Meserete Kristos Church grew out of work in 1948 by Mennonite Central Committee and Eastern Mennonite Mission. <ref name="NonformalTheologicalEducation">Bedru H. Muktar, "Non-formal Theological Education: The Meserete Kristos Church Experience," ''Mission Focus''. http://ambs.edu/files/documents/news-and-publications/publications/mf/Mission_Focus_Vol_5.pdf#page=24.</ref> In 1982, the Marxist government confiscated all of Meserete Kristos' offices, worship buildings, bank accounts and physical property. While the church leaders were arrested, church members took it upon themselves to hold church services in private. There was always the constant risk of police raids so members communicated by word of mouth and the number of people per service was limited.<ref>Wilbert Shenk, "New Wineskins for New Wine: Toward a Post-Christendom | ||
Ecclesiology," ''International Bulletin of Missionary Research''. http://prodigal.typepad.com/files/wilbert-shenk---new-wineskins-for-new-wine---toward-a-post-christendom-ecclesiology.pdf.</ref> The Meserete Kristos Church officially ceased to exist; however, the democratization process in 1992 initiated by the new government allowed the church to reemerge and obtain some of their lost property.<ref name="NonformalTheologicalEducation"/> This ten year period of underground activity didn't serve its intended purpose of decreasing church attendance, but rather signified a boom in church membership as numbers rose from 5,000 to 34,000 people.<ref name="NonformalTheologicalEducation"/> | Ecclesiology," ''International Bulletin of Missionary Research''. http://prodigal.typepad.com/files/wilbert-shenk---new-wineskins-for-new-wine---toward-a-post-christendom-ecclesiology.pdf.</ref> The Meserete Kristos Church officially ceased to exist; however, the democratization process in 1992 initiated by the new government allowed the church to reemerge and obtain some of their lost property.<ref name="NonformalTheologicalEducation"/> This ten year period of underground activity didn't serve its intended purpose of decreasing church attendance, but rather signified a boom in church membership as numbers rose from 5,000 to 34,000 people.<ref name="NonformalTheologicalEducation"/> | ||
| − | + | ||
===Growth=== | ===Growth=== | ||
| + | ====Meserete Kristos College==== | ||
| + | In 1983, when the Meserete Kristos Church was then banned, Yeshitila Mengistu, Kedir Dolchume, Tadesse Negawo, Siyum Gebretsadik and Shemelis Rega began to give informal leadership training.<ref name="mkcbeginnings">Meserete Kristos College. "Meserete Kristos College: Beginnings." http://www.mkcollege.org/Beginnings.html. web (accessed July 8,2010)</ref> This informal training allowed various congregations to train elders and evangelists. In 1994, the Meserete Kristos Church Bible Institute (MKCBI) was founded in order to provide biblical training for pastors, evangelists and leaders within Ethiopia.<ref name=mkcbeginnings/> In 1997, MKCBI was reorganized as the Meserete Kristos College.<ref name=mkcbeginnings/> Today, Meserete Kristos College has been fundamental in addressing the constant need for church leadership as the church's population continues to expand rapidly. According to the Meserete Kristos College website, they currently offer three programs: "A two-year Diploma in Bible and Christian Ministries in the Amharic Language, a two-year Advanced Diploma in Bible and Christian Ministries, and a four-year Baccalaureate Degree in Bible and Christian Ministries in the English Language." | ||
| + | |||
===Contemporary Trends=== | ===Contemporary Trends=== | ||
==Important Individuals== | ==Important Individuals== | ||
Revision as of 18:17, 8 June 2010
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The Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) is the primary Anabaptist-related group in Ethiopia. In 2009 MKC had 172,299 members in 484 congregations scattered across all 18 Administrative Regions of Ethiopia.[2] In addition to the 484 official Meserete Kristos Church congregations, there are also 834 congregation planting centers. [3] As of 2009, Meserete Kristos Church is the largest national Anabaptist conference in the world.[4]
Create new articles that tell stories about the Anabaptists of Meserete Kristos Church and insert links to those stories here. Click here to learn more about stories.
History
Origins
The Meserete Kristos Church grew out of work in 1948 by Mennonite Central Committee and Eastern Mennonite Mission. [5] In 1982, the Marxist government confiscated all of Meserete Kristos' offices, worship buildings, bank accounts and physical property. While the church leaders were arrested, church members took it upon themselves to hold church services in private. There was always the constant risk of police raids so members communicated by word of mouth and the number of people per service was limited.[6] The Meserete Kristos Church officially ceased to exist; however, the democratization process in 1992 initiated by the new government allowed the church to reemerge and obtain some of their lost property.[5] This ten year period of underground activity didn't serve its intended purpose of decreasing church attendance, but rather signified a boom in church membership as numbers rose from 5,000 to 34,000 people.[5]
Growth
Meserete Kristos College
In 1983, when the Meserete Kristos Church was then banned, Yeshitila Mengistu, Kedir Dolchume, Tadesse Negawo, Siyum Gebretsadik and Shemelis Rega began to give informal leadership training.[7] This informal training allowed various congregations to train elders and evangelists. In 1994, the Meserete Kristos Church Bible Institute (MKCBI) was founded in order to provide biblical training for pastors, evangelists and leaders within Ethiopia.[7] In 1997, MKCBI was reorganized as the Meserete Kristos College.[7] Today, Meserete Kristos College has been fundamental in addressing the constant need for church leadership as the church's population continues to expand rapidly. According to the Meserete Kristos College website, they currently offer three programs: "A two-year Diploma in Bible and Christian Ministries in the Amharic Language, a two-year Advanced Diploma in Bible and Christian Ministries, and a four-year Baccalaureate Degree in Bible and Christian Ministries in the English Language."
Contemporary Trends
Important Individuals
Electronic Resources
Annotated Bibliography
- Muktar, Bedru H. "Non-formal Theological Education: The Meserete Kristos Church Experience." Mission Focus 5 (1997): 23-46.
- This article seeks to illustrate the incredible growth rates Meserete Kristos Church has experienced throughout the last few decades and how they have implemented a non-formal theological education program in order to accommodate this growth and expansion. Not only are their education programs constantly reevaluated, but administrative structures are also reorganized to meet the growing needs of the church.
- Shenk, Wilbert. "New Wineskins for New Wine: Toward a Post-Christendom Ecclesiology." International Bulletin of Missionary Research 29, no.2 (2005): 23-46.
- This article argues that Christians should follow the gospels but should not follow a pre-prescribed form of church. Churches should be created with the understanding that local culture should shape the structure and form of the church.
Archives and Libraries
External Links
Citations
- ↑ "Ethiopia," CIA World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/et.html (accessed 7 June 2009).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "2009 Mennonite and Brethren in Christ World Membership: Africa Summary," Mennonite World Conference. http://www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=16 (accessed 7 June 2010).
- ↑ Meserete Kristos College. "Why Meserete Kristos College." http://www.mkcollege.org/Why-Mk-College.html. web (accessed July 8,2010)
- ↑ Sandra Joireman, Church, State and Citizen (Oxford:Oxford University Press, 2009), 86.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bedru H. Muktar, "Non-formal Theological Education: The Meserete Kristos Church Experience," Mission Focus. http://ambs.edu/files/documents/news-and-publications/publications/mf/Mission_Focus_Vol_5.pdf#page=24.
- ↑ Wilbert Shenk, "New Wineskins for New Wine: Toward a Post-Christendom Ecclesiology," International Bulletin of Missionary Research. http://prodigal.typepad.com/files/wilbert-shenk---new-wineskins-for-new-wine---toward-a-post-christendom-ecclesiology.pdf.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Meserete Kristos College. "Meserete Kristos College: Beginnings." http://www.mkcollege.org/Beginnings.html. web (accessed July 8,2010)
