“Ethiopia, despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, is consistently cited as one of the most vulnerable countries, not only in Sub-Saharan Africa regions but also globally, to climate variability and change.”
—Heliyon via ScienceDirect
A Report From Rev. Gezu Mossissa
Rev. Gezu Mossissa serves in the Ethiopia Mission District, working ecumenically with the Ethiopian Council of Churches, and he is a former District Superintendent to the Mission District. Confronted with the changes to climate impacting his country and community, he has connected with the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement to build connections and to share his efforts, which include local training events.
January 15–17 Rev. Mossissa held his latest training, this time in the community of Sululta, Ethiopia. The meeting brought 50 people together to share essential knowledge and effective practice in and for the life of the community. The comprehensive training covered a variety of topics that address climate change and climate change advocacy:
- The role of the youth in climate action
- Climate change and its impacts
- Promoting sustainability by reducing carbon emission
- Mobilizing the community for climate action by bringing in key leaders from the local churches
- Addressing the health impact of climate change in the community from the recent problems affecting the peoples living in Rift Valley areas of Ethiopia
Throughout 2024, the trainings, which were based on these topics, were held in different rural areas, specifically farming areas, with the goal of engaging community leaders. The majority of attendees were introduced to the work of creation justice to address the whole community and to equip them with a good knowledge of sustainability for future generations. The total number of participants from six local communities was around 1,500.
A Request:
“To continue we need your prayers and logistic support in order to reach all areas of the Oromo Regional states, which is 34% of the population of Ethiopia. We are focusing more on this region because of its high population and that it is highly affected by drought, heavy rainfall, and a big landslide in the year 2024. This is my short summary. May God bless you, Gezu Mossissa.”
Despite the challenges, Rev. Mossissa continues to serve as program coordinator for the additional planned trainings for 2025 and is seeking to expand the outreach. He desires to further connect to the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement.
In his report, Rev. Mossissa not only detailed the efforts to equip local communities to deal with the climate impacts but also sought prayer and support for the volcanic eruption that forced more dislocation in the Afar Region in December and January.
Rev. Gezu Mossissa works in the Ethiopia Missional District, collaborating with the local Council of Churches to offer trainings in creation stewardship and advocacy.