Our story — faith across generations

Where we began

The Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) — literally "Christ is the Foundation" — was born in 1948 E.C. (1956 G.C.) in Nazareth (Adama), Ethiopia, growing out of the schools and clinics planted by missionaries of the Eastern Mennonite Mission.

In 1982 the Marxist Derg regime closed the church, imprisoned its leaders, and confiscated its property. Yet during those ten silent years, the church grew from roughly 5,000 to over 50,000 members through underground house gatherings. Since 1991 MKC has served openly and now numbers more than 450,000 members across every region of Ethiopia.

Vision and mission

Vision: To be a church that is the light of Christ, the foundation of peace, and the source of life for Ethiopia.

Mission: To proclaim the gospel among every people, to disciple believers, to plant healthy churches, and to serve the nation with compassion and holistic development.

Our heritage

MKC stands in the global Anabaptist family — Christ-centred biblical authority, believer's baptism, peacemaking, costly discipleship, and a strong communal life of the gathered church.

Our family of ministries

• MKC Theological College in Bishoftu — training pastors and missionaries.
• MKC Relief & Development Association (MKC-RDA) — drought response, water, education and livelihoods.
• Mission department — planting churches in unreached zones such as Gambella, Afar and Somali region.
• Children, youth, women, men and family ministries at every congregation.