Holly trinity University

The success and challenge of Sunday schools in terms of

the purpose for which they were established and the
empowerment of young people in religion and ethics.

A SENIOR ESSAY PRESENTED TO THE HOLLY TRINITY

UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLEMENT OF
REQUIREMENT FOR THE BACHELOR DEGREE IN
THEOLOGY (B .TH)

BY Dn. ABREHAM YEHEYIS GEBISA

March 21, 2023

ADDIS ABABA
Research Proposal

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1. Background of Sunday school in EOTC ................................................................................... 3
1.2. Problem Statement ........................................................................................................................ 5
1.3. Objective of the study ................................................................................................................... 5
1.3.1. General Objective ................................................................................................................. 5
1.3.2. Specific Objective ................................................................................................................. 5
1.4. Significance of the study ............................................................................................................. 6
1.5. Limitation of the study ............................................................................................................... 6
1.6. Delimitation of The Study .......................................................................................................... 6
1.7. Time Table ................................................................................................................................... 6
1.8. Research Methodology ............................................................................................................... 7

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Chapter 1
1. Introduction
The Sunday School Program is committed to teach the word of God to children and help them
understand and apply the truth of God’s words in attitude and service. We know that primary to a
child’s spiritual development is the experience of being part of a warm and caring faith
community. Our classes are designed with bible studies, concrete life applications, the Ethiopian
Orthodox teaching, Amharic lessons along with worship songs. This helps our children develop
a sense of belonging to the community and helps them strengthen their identity by becoming
spiritually strong members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church

1.1. Background of Sunday school in EOTC

In the history of Ethiopian Orthodox Church Sunday schools for youth was begun to be founded
commencing from 1936 young followers who used to attend their religious education previously
in the holy trinity cathedral school had established an association named “Trinity Association” the
association was established for male followers only. However, after some years the cathedral
administration young female followers was found it necessary to establish their own association
apart from the already established male association. To these effect females who used to visit the
cathedral for the purpose of prior and preaching gathered and established an association named
“Kirstos Association”.

When the members of those associations began to enjoy a better religious awareness as well as
discipline, members of the associations especially female followers began to study the church
spiritual songs and commenced to sing in the church after Kurban. This was an interesting event
for church clergy and servants and began to encourage the founded associations. The objective of
the establish association was the following. To learn and preach Christianity doctrine basic
objectives. To carryout humanitarian activities. To preserve Christianity national culture. Facilitate
young female followers in order to enable provide service without any fears and to preach the
community. Because of this providing training to the female church servants.

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As it has been mentioned on the above since the spiritual song of the female followers began to be
enjoyed as a new event their activity initiates other churches to do the same. Starting from the
establishment of Miscaye hzunan Church spiritual service was able to attract the attention of Teferi
Mekonene and Etegemenen students. Because of this in every Sunday a considerable amount of
students began to attend spiritual service at the church. Some of the followers also began to provide
a voluntary service for the church. In addition to that, by developing unity between the students
and monasteries, the young followers request to be established a Sunday school which provides
sculpture education for the interested once. Following this the very famous Sunday school called
“Temero Mastemar” was founded in 1939.

Starting from the time Temero Mastermar association was established the necessary spiritual
service is being provided to the members as well as to the community. Next to that trinity spiritual
college was established in 1942 gospel messengers founded Sunday school. It was at that time
Mahbere Hawariat Ferehaimanot an association based in Asmara being established.

The Sunday school associations expand to Taeka Negest Bata Lemariam and St. Gabriel, to Genet
Tsige Menagesha St. Giorgis as well as to other big monasteries and churches found in Addis.
Beyond that it expanded to the Teklay Gizat cities and districts holding the name and title of the
church and with a special neck names. The association of young followers keeps up to 1974 the
present Sunday school was established as it has stated above by young female and male followers,
bishops and Archbishops, clergy and preachers who accept the objective of the schools. Likesilanat
Abba melektu later named as His Holiness Abune Tewofilos who was an administrator of Holy
Trinity Cathedral in 1936 accepted the objective of the Sunday schools and provide all the
necessary support for the expansion of the Sunday schools. In addition to that he has exerted the
required effort to keep the sustainability of the Sunday school. However, since those associations
were established in Addis Ababa City gradually, it was mandatory to create line of communication
within the church. At that time historical treasures revealed that a central office for the Sunday
school was founded as the secretariat office. This central office used to coordinate young
follower’s spiritual associations up to 1965 in limited way.

Starting from 1965 it was developed to youth affairs department. In such situation, in 1966 young
spiritual follower’s association established general assembly following the revolution being

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observed at that time. The general assembly of the young spiritual associations have contributed
most in the black history of the Dirge Regime to the history of the church. The general assembly
showed its brave act regardless of the harsh system. We can dare to say that the general assembly
has strengthened the department.

Generally, within strong collaboration of the assembly held the department, the present Sunday
school as the former young followers spiritual association secured is legal personality based on the
church constitution enacted 1970 and having fully recognized expand in to the whole Ethiopia up
to 1974.However, commencing from 1974 February month the Derge Regiem created an internal
influence stating that the association resembles to New Ethiopia youth Association and through
the wise decision of the Holy Synod Leadership their name was changed and renamed as Sunday
school which keeps up to today. It was from that time that the department was named as Sunday
school organizing department (Tewdros Belete Mengestu Facebbook Page)

1.2. Problem Statement

 Lack of spiritual life in Sunday school
 Lack of understanding the purpose of why we are attending the Sunday school
 Lack of support that should be given by holly fathers
 The recognition of some people that the service of Sunday school is an obstacle to create
good citizens for students to be late for their education
 Some people understand that Sunday school is a place where youth and children idle
 Lack of knowing the proper structure of Sunday school
 lack of using the curriculum prepared by the church to deliver the lesson for the children
and youths

1.3. Objective of the study

1.3.1. General Objective
the General Objective of this study is to identify the things that the Sunday school has
achieved in relation to the purpose for which it was established, and to investigate and
suggest solutions to the problems that the Sunday School is facing

1.3.2. Specific Objective

 To explore the attitude, effort and abilities of youth students as well as their spiritual
activities
 Showing and sharing the glorious and blessed work of Sunday school and in addition
identifying the problem in Sunday school and formulating a solution
 To give a belief account of current overall activities and services rendered by Sunday
schools.

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 Compering the growth of Sunday school in different regime and with sisters’
churches
 Identifying the contributions of Sunday school for the EOTC and for the state

1.4. Significance of the study

In terms of empowering young people for spiritual life and service, EOTC has adapted the
structure of believers in different age groups from children to Sunday school organization.
However, due to lack of understanding of this, or However, due to various reasons, especially
when the youth is taken by foreign teachers, it is observed that they are immersed in foreign
thoughts and culture, beyond that, it is observed that even young people in Sunday school
and in school are faced with ethical problems. So, instead of spiritual people, they are
attacked by spirits መንፈሳይንት (መንፋሳዊ ማሳይ). Therefore, the church needs young people
who will serve it not in words, but in behavior. Apart from the church, the state’s hope lies in
these young people. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the things that the
Sunday school has achieved in relation to the purpose for which it was established, and to
investigate and suggest solutions to the problems that the Sunday School is facing.

1.5. Limitation of the study

To prepare this paper there are a lot of limitations from those limitations the major is listed
below
Time: to prepare this paper I have below 14 weeks in this time duration it’s difficult to
prepare a research paper I didn’t gate enough time to collect a data, Review literatures, to
analyze and understand the collected data and to interpret it in this time interval
Materials: Lack of enough Literatures to review and Data to collect
This two factors limited me to reach the climax and also undertaking the study satisfactory
one of the constraints in adequate availability of research works in this particular area.

1.6. Delimitation of The Study

The structure of Sunday school program in EOTC is so widespread through out to its
dioceses and outside the country. Due to this the research only focus on the selected five
Sunday schools in Addis Ababa Diocese in this limited time it’s difficult to address more
than this therefore the research reminds his reader that the present study is delimited
specifically to the overall activities and related problems of the selected Sunday schools
found only in Addis Ababa Diocese.

1.7. Time Table

Duration Task Remark
March 17-21 Proposal Preparation
Submission
March 22-April 21 Data Collection And
Literature review

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April 22- May 19 Data Analysis and

Interpretation
May 20-June 3 Documentation
June 5 Document submission

1.8. Research Methodology

In in study the research the researcher will use both qualitative and quantitative methodology
to investigate the problems the interview will be conducted for higher officials and for the
members of the Sunday school as well as for the followers of the religion open ended
question will be prepared means questioner, observation is also other method of data
collection mechanism in this study.
As a tool Microsoft excel will be used to analysis the collected data if it’s necessary also spss
will be used