Pentecostalism in Ethiopia is the practice of various
Pentecostal
Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement forms of Christianity—often included within the
evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...
category of
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay (from Ge'ez: ) is an originally Amharic–Tigrinya language term for Pentecostal and other Eastern-oriented Protestant Christians within Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the Ethiopian and Eritrean diaspora. Today, the term refers to all Ev ...
—in
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
, with a constituency of above 1 million members. Despite persecution by the government and the dominant
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church ( am, የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን, ''Yäityop'ya ortodoks täwahedo bétäkrestyan'') is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. One of the few Chris ...
, Pentecostalism relied on youth and technology to spread its practices throughout the country.
Pentecostalism has been found to contribute to the prosperity of people in Ethiopia. The message of Pentecostalism includes
prosperity
Prosperity is the flourishing, thriving, good fortune and successful social status. Prosperity often produces profuse wealth including other factors which can be profusely wealthy in all degrees, such as happiness and health.
Competing notion ...
and beliefs around expectations for a better life.
After gaining
religious freedom
Freedom of religion or religious liberty is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance. It also includes the freedom ...
in 1991, churches began preaching prosperity and growth outside the government and to discuss fighting corruption.
Some Pentecostal worshipers state that the style of worship offers them tangible help for worldy problems.
Worship services include the practices
speaking in tongues
Speaking in tongues, also known as glossolalia, is a practice in which people utter words or speech-like sounds, often thought by believers to be languages unknown to the speaker. One definition used by linguists is the fluid vocalizing of sp ...
, divine
healing
With physical trauma or disease suffered by an organism, healing involves the repairing of damaged tissue(s), organs and the biological system as a whole and resumption of (normal) functioning. Medicine includes the process by which the cells i ...
,
exorcism
Exorcism () is the religious or spiritual practice of evicting demons, jinns, or other malevolent spiritual entities from a person, or an area, that is believed to be possessed. Depending on the spiritual beliefs of the exorcist, this may be ...
,
prophecy
In religion, a prophecy is a message that has been communicated to a person (typically called a ''prophet'') by a supernatural entity. Prophecies are a feature of many cultures and belief systems and usually contain divine will or law, or prete ...
, and powerful prayer.
History
Initial spread
In 1951, Anna-Liisa and Sanfrid Mattson traveled from
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
to Ethiopia and established a Pentecostal
mission
Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to:
Organised activities Religion
*Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity
*Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...
in
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa (; am, አዲስ አበባ, , new flower ; also known as , lit. "natural spring" in Oromo), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It is also served as major administrative center of the Oromia Region. In the 2007 census, t ...
, the country's capital. In 1960, a mission was created in
Awasa
Hawassa ( am, አዋሳ; ʾäwasa, also spelled Awassa or Awasa) known historically as Adare is a city in Ethiopia, on the shores of Lake Awasa, Lake Awassa in the Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia, Great Rift Valley. It is south of Addis Ababa via ...
by the
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
Philadelphia Church Mission. Pentecostalism, during the 1960s, attracted many students, and the movement grew enough that the
Full Gospel Believers Church
The Ethiopian Full Gospel Believers' Church is a Pentecostalism, Pentecostal Christian denomination in Ethiopia. The headquarters is in Addis Ababa.
History
The Ethiopian Full Gospel Believers' Church has its origins in a prayer conference held ...
(FBGC) was created in 1967.
Pentecostal practices eventually affected other Protestant denominations in Ethiopia, particularly the
Lutheran church
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...
.
Finnish and Swedish
missionaries
A missionary is a member of a religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thomas Hale 'On Being a Mi ...
began the first Pentecostal initiatives in Ethiopia, largely independent of influenced by American practices.
In 1967, the
Ethiopian Full Gospel Believers Church (Mulu Wengel) was founded.
This church was the first independent Pentecostal church of Ethiopia and is still the largest Pentecostal group in Ethiopia.
As churches were established, they relied on university students from
Ethiopian Orthodox
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church ( am, የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን, ''Yäityop'ya ortodoks täwahedo bétäkrestyan'') is the largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. One of the few Chris ...
backgrounds to assume leadership roles within the Pentecostal churches.
The Pentecostal movement has mostly affected urban settings where young, educated, and middle-class people have been its main converts.
The mobility of the youth and the similarities between their
modernity
Modernity, a topic in the humanities and social sciences, is both a historical period (the modern era) and the ensemble of particular socio-cultural norm (social), norms, attitudes and practices that arose in the wake of the Renaissancein the " ...
and traveling allowed Pentecostalism to fit their lifestyles more than other Ethiopian religions.
The lifestyle outlined by Pentecostalism fit the lifestyle of urban college students more than the Orthodox Christianity exposed to them throughout their childhood.
These students were in their teens and twenties.
Persecution
The appeal for an officially recognized Pentecostal organization was rejected by the royal government. This was only the beginning of political repression, which accelerated in the 1970s. On one 1972 Sunday alone, 250 worshipers were arrested. In 1979, the
Derg
The Derg (also spelled Dergue; , ), officially the Provisional Military Administrative Council (PMAC), was the military junta that ruled Ethiopia, then including present-day Eritrea, from 1974 to 1987, when the military leadership formally " c ...
government shut down the Addis Ababa FBGC church. During the Derg period, Pentecostalism was targeted with the goal of stopping its practice by closing churches and beating and imprisoning practitioners.
This was done to produce fear in believers and scare them from practicing Pentecostalism. Converted believers decided to return to their traditional culture.
In a survey of non-orthodox Christians, 16 percent classified as Pentecostals during the Derg reign.
All
Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
,
Evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...
, Pentecostal, and born-again Christians were labeled as "Pente". This term was first used in a derogatory and mocking tone during the Derg regime.
The term was first associated with the group after an attack on hundreds of Pentecostal youth in
Debre Zeit in 1976.
During the time when Pentecostals had to practice in closed areas, radio was one of the few methods they could rely on to spread their messages.
In 1967 despite previous legislation, the registration of the
Mulu Wengel Church was denied.
People from outside the Pentecostal movement were alarmed by the "emotional stirring" brought about by the
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
A spiritual gift or charism (plural: charisms or charismata; in Greek singular: χάρισμα
''charisma'', plural: χαρίσματα ''charismata'') is an extraordinary power given by the Holy Spirit."Spiritual gifts". ''A Dictionary of th ...
.
In 1979
Gudina Tumsa Gudina Tumsa (Bodji, Wallaga, Oromia Ethiopia, 1929 – 28 July 1979) was an Ethiopian theologian and General Secretary of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.
He helped form the Council for Cooperation of Churches in Ethiopia, an ecume ...
, Secretary General of the
Mekane Yesus Church
The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY; also called Mekane Yesus Church) is a Lutheran denomination in Ethiopia. It is the largest individual member church of the Lutheran World Federation. It is a Lutheran denomination with some ...
was executed, further forcing Pente groups to move their activities underground.
Despite the desire for unity among Pentecostal leaders, many churches were small in numbers and divided from other Pentecostal churches.
Pentecostalism and the Orthodox Church
Because the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has evolved throughout Ethiopian History, it has received certain privileges from the government. During the 1960s, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was the only Christian denomination accepted by the government.
This caused the emergence of Open and Closed areas where Orthodox Churches could practice freely, while Pentecostal churches and other denominations were forced to practice in private and keep a low profile. This governmental support of the
Orthodox Church
Orthodox Church may refer to:
* Eastern Orthodox Church
* Oriental Orthodox Churches
* Orthodox Presbyterian Church
* Orthodox Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
* State church of the Roman Empire
* True Orthodox church
See also
* Orthodox (di ...
has led Pentecostals to structure their movement around national unity and to use to slogan "the Gospel for Ethiopia by Ethiopians".
To further demonstrate national unity, Pentecostal churches rely on languages to reach more people. This is a practice taken from the Orthodox church, which uses
Ge’ez.
In
Wolaita, people did not want to take on the Orthodox Christianity that was imposed by their conquerors, and many converted to Protestant Christianity.
Physical attacks on Pentecostals were a result of the Orthodox hierarchy within the government and the distrust of Pentecostals by Orthodox believers.
Pentecostalism and Ethiopian Youth
Much of the Pentecostal movement is targeted at youth. A group of Swedish Pentecostals relied on summer Bible schools to help spread the practices of Pentecostalism.
Other youth were brought to Pentecostalism through friends and literature explaining the practices.
In the 1960s youth groups were created in urban towns to promote exposure of Pentecostalism to youth.
These youth groups have re-emerged through the Ethiopian Evangelical Student Association, which operates on all university campuses.
Practices
Pentecostalism has paid attention to local spirits, while other Protestant churches have dismissed such spirits or denied belief in them.
The use of
exorcism
Exorcism () is the religious or spiritual practice of evicting demons, jinns, or other malevolent spiritual entities from a person, or an area, that is believed to be possessed. Depending on the spiritual beliefs of the exorcist, this may be ...
reinforces the belief that Pentecostals and their God hold a special power over these spirits, a conviction that has led people to convert to Pentecostalism and abandon denominations that do not address the concerns of local people with such spirits.
The practice of spiritual transformation brought in more people as it emphasized the transformation of the self and individuals.
Not only do people accept Jesus as their savior, but they see themselves in a different perspective. People that joined the church are expected to cease non-Christian rituals, such as
animal sacrifice
Animal sacrifice is the ritual killing and offering of one or more animals, usually as part of a religious ritual or to appease or maintain favour with a deity. Animal sacrifices were common throughout Europe and the Ancient Near East until the spr ...
.
There are also expectations of behavior changes like abstaining from the consumption of
alcohol
Alcohol most commonly refers to:
* Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom
* Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks
Alcohol may also refer to:
Chemicals
* Ethanol, one of sev ...
.
Pentecostalism is believed to offer tangible help and holistic salvation that incorporates the self, spirit, and behaviors.
Gospel music
Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...
, choirs, and a non-traditional music draw people to Pentecostal churches, as well.
This along with
preaching
A sermon is a religious discourse or oration by a preacher, usually a member of clergy. Sermons address a scriptural, theological, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law, or behavior within both past and present contexts. El ...
was seen by some as a more dynamic and emotional than other forms of Christianity.
Oneness Pentecostalism
In the 1969, an Ethiopian minister named
Teklemariam Gezahagne converted to Oneness Pentecostalism. In 1972, the government forced Oneness
United Pentecostal Church
The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) is a Oneness Pentecostal denomination headquartered in Weldon Spring, Missouri, United States. The United Pentecostal Church International was formed in 1945 by a merger of the former Pentecostal C ...
missionaries, along with those from other denominations, out of Ethiopia. The established Oneness churches organized as the Apostolic Church of Ethiopia (ACE), and Teklemariam assumed leadership. Later, Teklemariam espoused a Christological doctrine which led to an official split with the UPC in 2001.
Oneness Pentecostalism differs from traditional forms of Pentecostals because it rejects the Trinity and water baptism is in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins rather than a church ritual.
Pentecostalism empowering Africa
The belief that Pentecostalism is both engaging and uplifting attracts people to the practice as many citizens have looked to enhance their lives.
Pentecostalism is rooted in a reciprocal relationship between people and God.
Pentecostal churches were found to be the root of finding economic prosperity and contributed to economic growth in the country as a whole. Churches also played a critical role in fighting corruption within the Ethiopian economic system.
Because of
separation of state and religion
The separation of church and state is a philosophical and jurisprudential concept for defining political distance in the relationship between religious organizations and the state. Conceptually, the term refers to the creation of a secular sta ...
, Pentecostals have relied on public initiatives and a societal presence to continue their influence within the political sphere.
The
prosperity gospel
Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, the gospel of success, or seed faith) is a religious belief among some Protestant Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are a ...
of Pentecostal churches resembles the same economic prosperity evident in the gospel. The consistencies between these objectives have drawn people to the movement.
In pursuit of further economic prosperity, people may join Pentecostal churches to gain wealth.
Pentecostals see the need for their presence in the economic sphere due to governmental corruption.
By playing a role in the economy, they are able to prevent or limit some of the corruption.
According to Pentecostal teachings, spiritual growth is paired with economic progress to show the result of living righteously. By making these synonymous, the movement inspires people to live the lifestyle prescribed by Pentecostalism.
Pentecostal organization also work with
non-government organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...
s and form their own development wings.
These wings provide
social service
Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. They may be provided by individuals, private and independent organisations, or administe ...
s and humanitarian work.
Some pastors have begun preaching against repressive tactics of the government and highlight accountability and stopping corruption in their sermons.
Current statistics
As of 2011, the three largest explicitly Pentecostal Ethiopian churches are the FBGC, the
Hiwot Berhan Church (HBC), and the ACE. Each maintain constituencies of approximately 500,000 members.
In 2007, 628 different Pente groups were registered with Ethiopia's
Ministry of Justice A Ministry of Justice is a common type of government department that serves as a justice ministry.
Lists of current ministries of justice
Named "Ministry"
* Ministry of Justice (Abkhazia)
* Ministry of Justice (Afghanistan)
* Ministry of Just ...
.
As of 2016 it is believed there are several million practitioners of Pentecostalism in Ethiopia.
References
{{reflist
Pentecostalism in Africa
Protestantism in Ethiopia