The Ethiopian Church Journal Blog

Vinoth Ramachandra was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He currently serves on the IFES Senior Leadership Team as Secretary for Dialogue & Social Engagement. He is the author of several essays, articles, and books including Gods That Fail (2nd ed. 2016) , Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues that Shape Our World (2008) and Church and Mission in the New Asia (2009).

Kwame Bediako was born in Akropong, Ghana. He was the first rector of the Akrofi-Christaller Institute for Theology, Mission and Culture, a university dedicated to the study and the documentation of Christian history, thought, and life in Ghana and, more broadly, in Africa. Kwame Bediako died on June 10, 2008 following a serious illness. An endowment fund has been established in the Institute under his name.    Books by Dr. Bediako: . Theology and Identity: The Impact of Culture Upon Christian Thought in the Second Century and in Modern Africa. (1999). OCMS.  . Christianity in Africa: The Renewal of a Non-Western Religion. (1995). Edinburgh University Press. . Jesus and the Gospel in Africa: History and Experience. (2000). Orbis Books.

What Is So Great About Greatness? By Mitiku Adisu Ethiopian leaders, like their compatriots everywhere else, seem to have been stung by the "greatness" bug. So virulent is the sting that they no longer think they are accountable to ordinary citizens. Without exception, leaders have come to believe things will be alright so long as they  are in power. Thus, young dreams, crumbs for the sick, the elderly, and children are daily sacrificed on the altar of their ambition!  Start with The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), activated in 2011 by the late-Prime Minister Meles Zenawi (the idea was originally Haile Selassie’s ; d.1975). Mengistu Hailemariam, who ruled Ethiopia from 1974 to 1991, was unable to launch the project due to an insurgency led by Meles and others draining his energies. The West, too, was bent on sabotaging his "pro-Soviet" government; and Egypt threatened war (as well as training and funding anti-Mengistu forces), among other factors.  The

Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations--for the whole earth is Mine. Exodus 19:5 But you are a ‘chosen race; a royal priesthood’; a holy nation; a people for God’s possession. Your purpose is to announce the virtuous deeds of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. Once you were ‘no people’; now you are ‘God’s people’. Once you had not received mercy; now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 He gave himself for us so that he could ransom us from all lawless actions and purify for himself a people as his very own who would be eager for good works. Titus 2:14 Glory to the one who loved us, and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and father – glory and power be to him for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6 including us, whom he called not only from among the Jews but also from among the Gentiles? This is what he says i