The Ethiopian Church Journal Blog

One can not help but applaud the choice of Desiree and her friends to borrow, so to speak, the bellies of the hungry. Surely that is one way to empathize with fellow humans struggling for meaningful existence. Our only wish is that this exercise would turn into a lifestyle to wean their generation off mindless consumerism. You may already know that hunger is preventable in that there is more than enough food to go around – even locally. The culprits are essentially self-indulgent groups everywhere and governments that shape national policies. Hence, the yawning need for political advocacy as well. We also appreciate the fabulous job World Vision and similar organizations have done over the years to create awareness and alleviate suffering. Here is a dilemma that requires exceptional creativity. Ethiopians [the point of our concern] are made to pay dearly for receiving food aid. Imported food aid often plays a destabilizing role on local economies. “Hunger projects” make a good story

Well, it is the Latter-day Saints now toe-deep in "a sea of dingy, dirty, starving, diseased and desperate [Ethiopian] men, women and children". We just wonder what kind of Gospel they plan to "feed" the people. Ed. Fast for Ethiopia accelerated work Source: LDS Church News The feeding camp in Makalle, Ethiopia, housed 120,000 people in tents. But it was the 30,000 people outside the camp -- those who had arrived at the gate after traveling hundreds of miles to find relief from starvation, only to learn there was a waiting list to get in -- who captured the hearts of two visiting officials from Salt Lake City. Elder M. Russell Ballard, then of the Presidency of the Seventy and now a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Glenn L. Pace, then managing director of the Church's Welfare Department and now of the First Quorum of the Seventy, were in Ethiopia to determine how best to use $6 million raised by Latter-day Saints in a special fast, Jan. 27

Earning Commissions on 'The Great Commission' By ROB MOLL in WSJ Christian missionaries have always brought institutions from home and planted them in foreign lands. Schools, hospitals and social services are staples of missionary activity. But recently those who spread the faith overseas have realized that it's not enough to educate and provide health care. In the midst of a world-wide recession, people need jobs, and a growing number of missionaries—many of them working outside traditional missionary organizations—are taking their business skills and starting for-profit companies in the mission fields. Missionary activity is in decline because of the recession. The Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church, two of the largest Protestant denominations, are making steep cuts to their missionary institutions. Yet Jesus' command to disciple all nations still pulls strongly on the hearts of many Christians. While mission agencies are tightening their pu

Why Angie says leave the kids in Haiti alone! Is Angelina Jolie a Hypocrite? Source: ahlanlive.com United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina Jolie is at odds with her efforts to help children. The A-lister who is known for rescuing orphans from third world countries has spoken out for the first time about how it is in fact better to leave kids in their own countries. "An emergency is not the time for new adoptions in any way." Earth-quake hit Haiti has left many children homeless and without parents and Angie is more concerned with relief efforts for the country and urges' others to think the same. "As an adoptive parent, I understand the urge to assist in that way. But people need to not get frustrated but really work with the country." Adoptive mother to three kids, Maddox, eight, from Cambodia, Pax, six, from Vietnam, and five-year-old Zahara from Ethiopia is trying to draw attention to much deeper issues within the country. "Child trafficking has bee

Karl Rabeder : Your decision certainly is a very important step in your life. Now you need to consider an even more important challenge. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Ed. As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man&

Egypt Christians call for right to build churches Source: AP, February 3, 2010 Cairo, Egypt - Egyptian activists have protested in front of parliament and called for legislation giving Christians equal rights as Muslims to build houses of worship. The demonstrators, both Muslim and Christian, were also protesting Wednesday against the sectarian strains in the country, particularly in light of a Christmas Eve slaying of six Copts and a Muslim guard outside a church in southern Egypt. The government has maintained that sectarian harmony reigns in Egypt and said the Jan. 6 attack had no religious dimension. Muslims need a municipal permit to build mosques. But Copts must get their papers signed by the president. Ten percent of Egypt's 80 million are Copts, who complain of being denied equal citizenship rights. Clashes do occasionally erupt.