Pastoral Care in the Living Web for At-Risk Children in Ethiopia

Abstract

Millions of children are at risk in Ethiopia due to child trafficking, forced migration, illegal adoption, harmful traditional practices, vulnerability, orphanhood, and rape. These risks can only be understood adequately as part of the larger social, economic, political, traditional, spiritual, religious, sexual, patriarchal, and cultural web. National and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) are trying to provide holistic care for at-risk children. However, neither the church nor the NGOs are succeeding in this. The church’s program is mostly spiritual and educational, and the NGOs are developmental and social in focus. This paper uses insights from pastoral theology, scripture, and social science to show the way to provide holistic ministry for at-risk children in Ethiopia. The new model of pastoral care in the living web for at-risk children in Ethiopia derives from Bonnie Miller-McLemore's metaphor of pastoral care in the living human web and Gudina Tumsa and the EECMY’s holistic ministry and theology. Pastoral care in the living web for at-risk children will be resistant, nurturing, empowering, and liberating to provide holistic development and care for at-risk children in Ethiopia.