Pentecostalism in Ethiopia

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Pentecostalism in Ethiopia is the practice of various

speaking in tongues, divine healing, exorcism, prophecy, and powerful prayer.[3]

History

Initial spread

In 1951, Anna-Liisa and Sanfrid Mattson traveled from

Ethiopian Orthodox backgrounds to assume leadership roles within the Pentecostal churches.[2] The Pentecostal movement has mostly affected urban settings where young, educated, and middle-class people have been its main converts.[2] The mobility of the youth and the similarities between their modernity and traveling allowed Pentecostalism to fit their lifestyles more than other Ethiopian religions.[5] The lifestyle outlined by Pentecostalism fit the lifestyle of urban college students more than the Orthodox Christianity exposed to them throughout their childhood.[8] These students were in their teens and twenties.[8]

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

Mekane Yesus Church was executed, further forcing Pente groups to move their activities underground.[2] Despite the desire for unity among Pentecostal leaders, many churches were small in numbers and divided from other Pentecostal churches.[2]

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.

Ge’ez.[2] In Wolaita, people did not want to take on the Orthodox Christianity that was imposed by their conquerors, and many converted to Protestant Christianity.[8] Physical attacks on Pentecostals were a result of the Orthodox hierarchy within the government and the distrust of Pentecostals by Orthodox believers.[2]

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.[5] Other youth were brought to Pentecostalism through friends and literature explaining the practices.[5] In the 1960s youth groups were created in urban towns to promote exposure of Pentecostalism to youth.[2] These youth groups have re-emerged through the Ethiopian Evangelical Student Association, which operates on all university campuses.[2]

Practices

Pentecostalism has paid attention to local spirits, while other Protestant churches have dismissed such spirits or denied belief in them.

preaching was seen by some as a more dynamic and emotional than other forms of Christianity.[2]

Oneness Pentecostalism

In the 1969, an Ethiopian minister named Teklemariam Gezahagne converted to Oneness Pentecostalism. In 1972, the government forced Oneness United Pentecostal Church 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.[11] 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.[10]

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.

social services and humanitarian work.[2] Some pastors have begun preaching against repressive tactics of the government and highlight accountability and stopping corruption in their sermons.[2]

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.[13] In 2007, 628 different Pente groups were registered with Ethiopia's Ministry of Justice.[2] As of 2016 it is believed there are several million practitioners of Pentecostalism in Ethiopia.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements in Ethiopia – European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism". glopent.net. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Fantini, Emanuele (July 2015). "Go Pente! The Charismatic Renewal of the Evangelical Movement in Ethiopia". In Ficquet E., Prunier G. (Eds), Understanding Contemporary Ethiopia,: Monarchy, Revolution and the Legacy of Meles Zenawi.
  3. ^
    JSTOR 10.1525/j.ctt1ffjng5.10
  4. ISBN 9783447065283
    .
  5. ^ a b c d e f Haustein, Jörg (June 2011). "Charismatic Renewal, Denominational Tradition and the Transformation of Ethiopian Society" (PDF). Evangelisches Missionswerk in Deutschland (EMW).
  6. ^ Djaleta, Tesso. A Critical Survey of the Development of Charismatic Influences in the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. (Unpublished Master's Thesis). University of Liverpool.
  7. ^ Godebo, Yacob (2011). The Impact of the Charismatic Movement and Related Tensions on the Traditional Lutheran Worship of the South Central Synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Since 1991. PhD Thesis (University of Liverpool).
  8. ^
    ISSN 1871-7691
    .
  9. ISBN 9783447065283
    .
  10. ^
    doi:10.1558/ptcs.v12i2.150
    .
  11. ISBN 9781107007093. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  12. ^
    JSTOR 26356527
    .
  13. ISBN 9783447065283
    .
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