Issues of church unity and effective church leadership dominated a two-day visit to Ethiopia by Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church, and Matthew Bediako, general secretary of the church. During their visit, April 23 to 25, Paulsen and Bediako met with local church leaders, addressed gatherings of church members, and visited with Ethiopian President Negasso Gidada.

In recent years, the Adventist Church in Ethiopia has passed through a period of organizational instability, internal strife, and disunity among church leadership and members, according to Pardon Mwansa, president of the church’s Eastern Africa Division, which administers the Adventist Church in the region.

“As is often the case, many reasons contribute to instability, including integrity and management style of the leaders, tribal differences, and even representation in administrative bodies,” said Mwansa. “Whatever the issues, it became evident that as a Christian church we needed to restore unity and governance befitting a body of Christ.”

“It was essential that the leadership of the church in Eastern Africa work on finding a solution that would lead to healing,” Mwansa added.

“The visit of the top church leaders goes a long way in demonstrating their support for our efforts in seeking healing for our Ethiopian church,” said Mwansa. He also believes the recent Adventist Church leadership elections in Ethiopia were necessary in bringing healing and unity of mission.

Paulsen and Bediako met with the believers who came for a spiritual convocation at the Central Church in Addis Ababa. They also met with a group of some 100 ministers and church office workers.

In his address to church members, Paulsen spoke about the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian and in understanding the message of Christ, and discovering the meaning of discipleship and support in witnessing for Christ. Quality of Christian life will be evidenced in acts of unity and in Christian conduct that is exemplified by honesty, kindness, and in setting others higher than oneself, was his message against the background of the Ethiopian church’s need for reconciliation.

The world church leader believes that the “things that went wrong in Ethiopia need to be resolved by the church there. Leadership integrity and restoration of trust surface as top priorities before the newly elected leadership.”

During a courtesy visit with Ethiopian President Gidada on April 24, Pastor Paulsen spoke of the Adventist Church’s continued interest in serving Ethiopian society. He said that such commitment is seen by the effective presence of the church in education, health, and medical operations, as well as in humanitarian and development activities. Paulsen expressed the church’s intent to be actively involved in combating the “scourge of AIDS.”

In his comments, the president of Ethiopia praised the Adventist Church for its involvement in social outreach. He particularly expressed his interest in the church’s work in AIDS prevention.

The Adventist presence in Ethiopia dates back to the early 1900s. Pioneering missionaries came from Europe, mostly from Scandinavia, and set up educational and medical institutions. In 1933 the Empress Zauditu Memorial Hospital was opened in Addis Ababa and became the country’s premier medical institution. It was operated by the Adventist Church until 1976 when it was nationalized by the communist government.

“Today, the stage seems to be set for further growth of church work in Ethiopia,” says Biqilaa Merga, communication director for the Adventist Church in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian community of Adventists stands at 132,000 people, meeting in 658 churches. There are 26 educational and 12 health institutions operated by the Adventist Church in Ethiopia. In the past five years, several new church congregations have been organized and new church buildings constructed as part of the outreach of the Adventist Church’s Global Mission initiative. The Ethiopian church’s mission is significantly supported by radio programs produced in four Ethiopian languages.  The programs are broadcast throughout Ethiopia, as well as in Djibuti, Ertirea, and part of Somalia.