Parish Nurse Initiative in Ethiopia
It was in January of 2025 that Master Builders Center and the Ethiopian Evangelical Mekane Yesus (Lutheran) first heard about parish nursing and immediately became interested in initiating a parish nurse ministry for the church and community outreach. Within a few months, a proposal was introduced to the EEMY and accepted. The concept was shared with the Ethiopian Health Department and supported. In January 2026, a team of parish nurses and supporters traveled to Ethiopia and provided an intensive workshop for 46 nurses, 3 pastors, and several synod (district) presidents. Sister Tadelech Loha was hired as the coordinator of the parish nurse ministry through MBC and EEMY. Sister Tadelech is a masters-prepared nurse and a deaconess.
In Ethiopia, access to healthcare becomes a significant challenge—especially for those living in rural areas, which is about 78% of the population. Much of the transportation is on foot, donkey carts, or other simple modes of transportation. After the long journey is completed, the person often finds the clinic closed due to insufficient staffing and/or with insufficient or inadequate medical supplies.
The Parish Nurse Ministry seeks to enable the church to serve as a vital link between underserved communities and the health care services they urgently need. Plans are for each synod (district) to train a leader who will coordinate parish nurses in their area. The parish nurses will be equipped to provide basic health education, offer clinics for assessments and follow-up care, and similar tasks within the congregation and as an outreach into the community to prisons, schools, and other similar sites.
For more information, check the website, www.mbcnow.org or call 251-751-1289.
