
Mekane Yesus Seminary (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)(Anglophone Africa Cohort)
Ethiopia’s Lutheran church has over 9.3 million members. Facing the challenge of preaching the Gospel in over 80 languages, the denomination needs educated leaders – and Mekane Yesus Seminary, founded in 1960, supplies that need. Mekane Yesus has 1,400 students in three programs: Theological Studies, Music and Media, and Management and Leadership. (VSI helped Mekane Yesus consolidate from four programs into these three, a consolidation that also refocused on the school’s primary mission.) The seminary emphasizes the diversity and equality of all Christians in a society where ethnic identities often conflict and upholds Christian ethics in a society where corruption often colors civic life. As the denomination and seminary grow, VSI is helping the seminary consider how to expand its facilities wisely, how to encourage more women in theological leadership, and how to engage new donors (especially for scholarships). Just before COVID-19 began, the seminary successfully installed a new well, which is vital for dealing with the pandemic.