Ethiopia is a unique country in Africa in that it was never under colonial rule other than an occupation by Italy during World War II. The country was ruled by monarchy until the military overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974. In the years following, Christians suffered great persecution at the hands of Marxist-leaning regimes. After a series of coups, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) took control in 1991. While multi-party elections were held, the opposition parties complained of government interference.

Ethiopia is split religiously, with official statistics of 35 to 40 percent of the population being Ethiopian Orthodox (primarily in the north) and 45 to 50 percent Muslim (primarily in the south). Evangelical Christians may account for as much as 20 percent of the population.  Many, however, especially in the rural areas, face severe persecution from both Muslims and Ethiopian Orthodox. Young people who convert to evangelical Christianity are often expelled from their homes and forced to live on the streets or work as house servants. Evangelical meetings are regularly broken up by mobs that beat, and occasionally kill, those gathered. Church buildings and homes of evangelicals are also the targets of mob attacks and even bombings.

Violence against evangelical Christians in western Ethiopia has intensified in recent years. In October 2006, at least five people were killed in the city of Jimma as a result of violence between Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Muslims. An evangelist was beaten to death in the same city in March 2007. In March 2008, Muslim militants attacked two village churches in the town of Nensabo, southern Ethiopia during worship services. One Christian was killed and dozens others injured, including women and children.

• Pray for safety for evangelicals in Ethiopia. 
• Pray that the authorities will be willing to oppose those who use violence in the name of religion.  
• Pray for Christians facing various hardships as a result of this opposition.