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Advent Prayer - Christmas in Ethiopia

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Published: Sunday 18 December 2011

Advent Prayer - Christmas in Ethiopia

Project(s): 13-920

Country: Ethiopia, Africa

“The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death.” Luke 1:78-79

On Christmas Day, a Christian school in supported by Barnabas Fund organised a celebratory lunch for the children followed by a spiritual programme

Thousands of Christians were forced to flee their homes in Asendabo, Jimma Zone, western Ethiopia, in early March 2011 when Muslims accused a Christian of desecrating a copy of the Quran. In the following days, a mob rampaged through five districts in the predominantly Muslim area, looting property and torching at least 69 churches, scores of homes and a Bible school. Three Christians died, and dozens more were injured. Barnabas Fund provided emergency aid for some of the 10,000 Christians made homeless in the violence.

Ethiopia has considered itself a Christian country since the fourth century, but in recent years Muslim extremism has gained influence, and violence against Christians, especially in Muslim-majority areas, has increased. Yet in this context, Muslims are coming to Christ: 60 Ethiopian missionaries from a Muslim background, all supported by Barnabas, are bringing thousands of new believers to Christ in isolated, rural parts of the country.

Christmas in Ethiopia is a time for family and friends to gather together. The celebration of Christ’s birth is called Ganna, and it is a time of attending church, visiting family, feasting, and playing games. Male members of the family play a game (also called ganna) similar to hockey, which is played with a curved stick and a round wooden ball. It is one of the oldest and most popular outdoor sports, and legend has it that shepherds were playing ganna when the angels announced the birth of Christ. On Christmas Day, a traditional chicken stew called doro wat is prepared. Ganna is traditionally not a time of giving presents.

Give thanks for the Christian community in Ethiopia, which is the only Christianmajority country in the Horn of Africa. Pray that the increase in the influence of extremist Islamic ideologies will be stopped and that the Church will have strength and wisdom to counter the growing Islamisation of the country. Pray for those Christians living in Muslim-majority contexts, that they will feel the Lord’s presence and know that He is their strong tower (Psalm 61:3). Pray for comfort for those who were made homeless and those who were injured or lost loved ones in the violence in March, and pray that they will be able to show Christ’s love and forgiveness to their Muslim neighbours.