Ethiopia, Africa: The nation continues to be torn with social, political and economic crises:

1. a) Hostilities with neighbors Eritrea and Somalia cripple efforts to revive and modernize the country. The Eritrean war was immensely costly in money and lives for no real gain. Embroilment in the civil conflict in Somalia could become a huge expense.
2. b) Ethnic fragmentation remains a possibility. Regionalization brings greater autonomy to the major ethnic groups – Amhara, Tigrinya, Oromo, Somali and Afar. Some scenarios could see federal power break down and tribalism increase.

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Estonia is a former-Soviet success story, as the small nation transitions to a more Western economy and political structure. However, poverty is not vanquished, and materialism’s influence grows. There is a crisis of values, recognized even by the media and the state, as secularism and pluralism tighten their grip. Pray for righteousness and biblical values to be modelled by a wise and upright government.

Religious freedom is an open door to Christian ministry but also to theological error. Many marginal Christian sects are increasing in number and influence – Mormons have more missionaries in Estonia than any Christian agency has there. While actual practitioners are few, a recent poll showed 11% of Estonians expressed warmest feelings toward pre-Christian pagan religions. Pray for the truth and light of Christ to be established in this new marketplace of religious options.

Pray for the less reached, specifically for:

a) The Tigre, mostly Muslim, and one of only a few Eritrean or Ethiopian Semitic peoples who are not Orthodox. They are related to the Tigrinya, but culturally distant from them. The Bible is available, but there are few Christians.

b) The Jabarti – a Muslim minority among the Tigrinya. Pray that the unrest might create opportunities for Tigrinya Christians to engage this related but previously distant group.

c) The Afar and related Saho peoples, largely nomadic pastoralists in the southeast with few Christians.

d) The Beja and Nara peoples of the northwest with no known witness. Many are nomadic.

e) The Arab Rashiada, who migrated from Saudi Arabia in the 19th Century. Recent work among these peoples has been reported, but there are still no known churches.

Christian support ministries have grown even more vital in recent years, since more conventional work has been shut down or suspended.

a) Students still in Eritrea remain fervent in evangelizing and discipling their peers, and large numbers continue to come to faith. Many recent evangelical movements were started or fuelled by students committed to Jesus.

b) Radio and satellite TV provide programming for Christians in Tigrinya and English, though some work has shut down in recent years, including an evangelistic work among the Tigre and Beja peoples. Christian radio is being broadcast into Eritrea from neighbouring countries. Pray for the gospel to go forth through these channels; shortwave radio Bible studies reach even into the military camps.

c) Other resources include the JESUS film (six languages), GRN audio Scriptures/teachings (in eight languages) and a series of tracts as well as a Bible Correspondence Course developed by FFM. Pray for widespread and effective use of these; pray also for development of more materials that will bless Christians and more tools for use in reaching others.