Abstract of the article on Ethiopia's experience in providing Biblical Insights and Principles to

enable church and ministry leaders to shape a mission-oriented response to holistic ministry
to and with children

Shiferaw W. Michael, Director, Child Development Training and Research Center

Christianity has been in Ethiopia for centuries. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church got is first Patriarch in
303 AD. Children have always been part of the celebrations and rituals of this Church. These practices
enabled children to "catch" their predecessor's faith. All evangelical churches in Ethiopia benefited much
from the teachings and practices of this Church regarding children.
Intentional focus on imparting biblical insights and principles to enable church and ministry leaders to
shape a mission-oriented response to holistic ministry to and with children began with the coming of
World Vision (1975) and Compassion International (1993) to the country. World Vision changed its focus
to what is known as "Area Development Program" and this minimized its influence on the church.
Compassion championed the impartation of biblical insights and principles to shape mission-oriented
response to holistic children's ministry.

Ethiopian evangelical churches have put in place mechanisms to help, guide and ensure churches and
child focused ministries shape mission -oriented response to holistic ministry to and with children. The
most foundational measures include the adoption of the Covenant on Ministry to Children (2001), the
agreement to Raise a New Generation of Ethiopians to be instruments of holistic transformation of the
country and the establishment of an institution to help them spearhead this move (2004), the
adoption of National Child Protection Policy of Evangelicals (May 2009), the launching of National
Baseline Survey on Holistic children's ministry (2011), and Planned National Program to Celebrate
champions for children (August 2013).

The role of the Holy Spirit in these moves is vivid. He envisioned, gave wisdom and favor to the people
He chose to help the church in its journey toward missional-focus on holistic children's ministry.