Gambella, Ethiopia - Seeking to be a Multi-ethnic Worshipping Community

The Wilsons lived and worked in Gambella, Ethiopia between 2016 & 2020. 

Read about their life and work in Gambella in their own words: 

'Gambella is affected by a protracted ethnic conflict between the Nuer and Anuak communities, and it is also impacted by ethnic clashes in neighbouring South Sudan.  One of the distinguishing marks of the Anglican seminary in Gambella is that it intentionally seeks to be a multi-ethnic worshipping community.  For this reason, a significant focus of our time there was helping young men and women to navigate the challenges of leading churches amid a prolonged ethnic conflict. This challenge laid hold of us and seemed to resonate deeply with Chris’s experience growing up in a highly segregated and bitterly divided part of Northern Ireland.

In 2021, as a result of the seminary in Gambella switching to an intensive-based model and ethnic conflict increasing throughout many regions of Ethiopia, we moved to Addis Ababa to take on a new role primarily focused on peacebuilding.  Chris has joined a team of Ethiopian church leaders who are seeking to equip churches to actively pursue peace in conflict-affected regions on Ethiopia.'

* The image is of a beautiful Timkat (renewal of baptism) celebration down by the Baro River, Gambella