A revolution in 1974 over threw the Emperor Haile Selassie and brought in a Marxist government, which ruled for 17 years with the help of the USSR. During this chaotic time Ethiopia suffered severe droughts and famines. Bob Geldof brought the crisis to global attention while Madonna and Bono sang “Feed the World”. Since 1991 a more democratic government has brought greater freedom to Ethiopia and given greater political power to the regions.

Nearly two thousand years ago two blokes from Tyre set out to evangelise the area and since then there has been a Christian Church in Ethiopia since the 4th century. The Marxist regime persecuted Christians and destroyed many church buildings, but complete freedom of religion has been restored since 1991.

Ethiopians are proud to claim that they discovered coffee - it is still the one of the country’s major exports. Just think about this – a cup of caramel macchiato venti from Starbucks will set you back around $3, which is about the same as what an Ethiopian farmer will earn in a day. Only 2% of what you pay for a cup of coffee will make it into the hands of the people who worked to produce it.

Ethiopa currently faces famine - which President Meles Zenawi warns could be worse than the famine of 1984. Six million people in Ethiopia are already in need of emergency food aid. Worst-case scenarios indicate that this figure could rise up to 14 million people early next year.

Churches in Ethiopia survived the persecution of the Communist era. In 1960 there less than 200,000 Christians in Protestant churches and by the year 2000, this number has grown to nearly 12 million!

There has been a move of the Holy Spirit in some sections of the Orthodox Church – with people becoming Christians and getting close to God.

The growth of the Protestant Church has been amazing. Pray that these Christians would continue to have a real passion for evangelism. Pray also for real spiritual growth and discipleship in the Church.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has survived for centuries almost cut off from Christians around the world and surrounded by Islamic nations. Many Ethiopians belong to the church without having a personal relationship with Jesus and a living faith – and many are also caught up in the occult. Pray that Holy Spirit can bring new life to this Church.

Many people have come to Ethiopia to escape the violence and bloodshed of Sudan’s civil war. Over 100,000 people live in refugee camps near the border. Pray for their immediate care and health and for the security of their future.

With over 80 languages spoken across Ethiopia there is an ongoing need for Bible translation. The Bible or the New Testament is available in 18 languages – and a further 12 languages are in development. Training courses are given regularly to train Ethiopians in translation – pray that many would be able to use their skills in this way.

AIDS has spread rapidly and affects over 3 million – that’s 10% of the adult population. Pray for Christians who provide care and counselling for families who are suffering.