Hi all--its actually me, Chris--normally Mindy is our blogger, but I myself wanted to get on and give you a firsthand update on the undergraduate theological college here in Addis Ababa. First, I am teaching two courses, although I have two separate sections of one of those courses. This first course is "Old Testament 2: Historical Books," which is an intensive survey upon the books Joshua through Esther. We also take selected passages and "exegete" them, meaning we labor together to understand the original meaning of the text in its context. We then work towards how we might appropriate the text for today in our contemporary Ethiopian context in a sermon or lesson for the Church. One of the most fulfilling things of all this is when we're unpacking a text and lights begin to turn on in the faces of the students. As mentioned, I teach two sections of this course, with over 30 students in each. The first section is a day class, and most of the students are full-time. The second section is in the evening, for part-time students who also have full-time jobs. The college works hard to accomodate part-timers who have to work; these students comprise a significant percentage of the student body of 350.
My second course is an elective, "Old Testament Theology." Don't let the word "theology" scare you! Theology doesn't mean dead orthodoxy, but the study of the living God as the Old Testament displays him in His manifold perfections and purposes for creation. I take a biblical-theological approach, and we pore over text after text, straining to submit to the text and not read in our own preconceptions about who God is and what He is doing. I have eight students in this course.
The students are very bright and mature. All are here because they want to be here, and most are sacrificing a great deal to have the privilege to be at ETC. All have at least five years of ministry experience and a strong sense of the Lord's leading into ministry. Many will return as pastors, evangelists, missionaries and leaders in churches. Their English ability is very high; all are capable in at least two languages, most three or more. The place buzzes with aspirations, hopes, and joy in Christ. There is unity here, depite the fact that the students come from over 30 different denominations and as many different ethnic backgrounds and tribal loyalties, some of which are mortal enemies.
Most of the leadership of the Ethiopian churches have no training. What this means is that the typical preacher for a typical church on Sunday is an "evangelist", who makes rounds to 3-4 churches to serve them and preach. The "evangelist" will have about 5-6 sermons he knows on various topics. He'll have an evangelistic sermon, a message on spirits, on how to experience God's blessings (too often in a "health and wealth" vein-"If one does what God says, then you will be healthy and wealthy."), and perhaps one on judgment. That's it. Messages often become emotional appeals with little depth. ETC's primary goal is to train the future leadership of Ethiopia to handle rightly the Word of God with skill and then wisely bring it to bear upon Ethiopia and life here.
I cannot emphasize the point enough about how God is alive and at work here in this country. The Church continues to explode in size, and I consistently hear of miracles of healing and spirit possession and exorcisms. You can only discount these stories so many times before you begin to realize that the issue is not them, but me and my Western Christian presuppositions. Alongside of this growth, Islam has decided that Ethiopia is of strategic importance, and is pouring massive amounts of money into the country, building mosques everywhere. Amazingly, peace exists between the two. Muslim and Christian live as neighbors everywhere. The more significant divisions and frictions occur along ethnic and tribal fault lines.
The latest CIA website stats on Ethiopia tag the Muslim population to be at 45-50%, the non-orthodox Christians 10%. Orthodox Christianity comprises something like 35%.
This is kind of fun. I'll try to get on more as things progress!
My second course is an elective, "Old Testament Theology." Don't let the word "theology" scare you! Theology doesn't mean dead orthodoxy, but the study of the living God as the Old Testament displays him in His manifold perfections and purposes for creation. I take a biblical-theological approach, and we pore over text after text, straining to submit to the text and not read in our own preconceptions about who God is and what He is doing. I have eight students in this course.
The students are very bright and mature. All are here because they want to be here, and most are sacrificing a great deal to have the privilege to be at ETC. All have at least five years of ministry experience and a strong sense of the Lord's leading into ministry. Many will return as pastors, evangelists, missionaries and leaders in churches. Their English ability is very high; all are capable in at least two languages, most three or more. The place buzzes with aspirations, hopes, and joy in Christ. There is unity here, depite the fact that the students come from over 30 different denominations and as many different ethnic backgrounds and tribal loyalties, some of which are mortal enemies.
Most of the leadership of the Ethiopian churches have no training. What this means is that the typical preacher for a typical church on Sunday is an "evangelist", who makes rounds to 3-4 churches to serve them and preach. The "evangelist" will have about 5-6 sermons he knows on various topics. He'll have an evangelistic sermon, a message on spirits, on how to experience God's blessings (too often in a "health and wealth" vein-"If one does what God says, then you will be healthy and wealthy."), and perhaps one on judgment. That's it. Messages often become emotional appeals with little depth. ETC's primary goal is to train the future leadership of Ethiopia to handle rightly the Word of God with skill and then wisely bring it to bear upon Ethiopia and life here.
I cannot emphasize the point enough about how God is alive and at work here in this country. The Church continues to explode in size, and I consistently hear of miracles of healing and spirit possession and exorcisms. You can only discount these stories so many times before you begin to realize that the issue is not them, but me and my Western Christian presuppositions. Alongside of this growth, Islam has decided that Ethiopia is of strategic importance, and is pouring massive amounts of money into the country, building mosques everywhere. Amazingly, peace exists between the two. Muslim and Christian live as neighbors everywhere. The more significant divisions and frictions occur along ethnic and tribal fault lines.
The latest CIA website stats on Ethiopia tag the Muslim population to be at 45-50%, the non-orthodox Christians 10%. Orthodox Christianity comprises something like 35%.
This is kind of fun. I'll try to get on more as things progress!
posted by beethamsinethiopia at 12:58 AM
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