The Diocese of the Horn of Africa is one of the newest, largest, and smallest dioceses in the Anglican Communion. How so? It covers all of Ethiopia except the Gambella region, along with Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia. A vast area but currently with less than 20 churches: 2 in Addis Ababa, about 15 in refugee camps around Assosa on the border with the Republic of Sudan.

The opportunities are many: to plant churches as the Lord opens doors, and to raise up future church leaders from people groups which have few believers. The financial resources are few: a reducing grant from the Province and the tithe of St Matthew’s Church in Addis. The needs are great, if prosaic: clergy stipends; infrastructure (communications, office); travel (synod, bishop); bishop’s discretionary fund (e.g. support for clergy health emergencies). At the time of writing, there is no budget for any of the above beyond June 2024. 

It is with this in mind that we decided that the ICS Spring Appeal should be for the work that our mission partner Martin Reakes-Williams is overseeing in Ethiopia. Martin has become the Bishop of the Horn of Africa and we want to support him by raising funds that he can use in some of the poorest and most needy churches. 

This spring we invite you to make a gift to this new ministry Martin is undertaking, to create a fund that he can draw upon for the poorest and most in need, as he ministers, church plants and cares for this emerging diocese.