Pastor Eyoel Wolde Gebriel, the Marriage and Family Ministry Coordinator at the Ethiopian Meserete Kristos Church Misrak Denomination in Addis Ababa, is working hard to educate and empower couples before they enter marriage, laying the groundwork for healthier relationships.
Pastor Eyoel’s and his fellow religious leaders’ work is critical in the effort at reducing the daunting challenge of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). A study conducted by the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs in 2022 revealed that 34% of women in Ethiopia experienced IPV during their lifetime.
Pastor Eyoel joined the UNFPA-supported project titled “Addressing Women and Girls’ Wellbeing by Faith-Based Actors through Prevention and Response Mechanisms” in 2022. Implemented by the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) Ethiopia, the project aimed to actively involve faith communities in the prevention of gender-based violence, recognizing their significant influence and ability to effect social norm change. Stunned by the staggering data on IPV, Pastor Eyoel sought to implement change through his counselling initiatives.
But Pastor Eyoel has already been providing family counselling, for pre-marriage couples and married couples, within the church focusing on the youth before the project began. The Church’s pre-marriage counselling program which takes up to three months, prepares couples for the journey ahead, covering essential topics such as conflict management and relationship dynamics. “The consecutive education, interviews, and experience sharing from senior married couples inform couples about marriage and their expected roles in preventing and handling conflict,” Pastor Eyoel explains.
Through the support of the project, Pastor Eyoel says that the quality of the church’s marriage counselling, especially in addressing IPV, has been encouraging. Updated manuals and training for counselors offered through the project have enhanced the effectiveness of the counselling sessions.
Pastor Eyoel highlights that a key aspect of the support he received was a training on referral linkages, which introduced him to “a new concept” and the importance of integrating counselling services with medical and legal professionals to create a comprehensive approach to IPV prevention. Now, Pastor Eyoel says he actively challenges his fellow counselors to build networks that facilitate referrals, making sure that those seeking help receive holistic support.
Recently, the church recognized his efforts by appointing him to a national survey team focused on the family status of Ethiopian Evangelical Believers. They have further allocated resources to strengthen IPV prevention initiatives and supported efforts to engage young people in seeking help. “The incidence of conflict among the denomination’s community is decreasing,” he notes, as more individuals come forward to participate in discussions and teachings.
Pastor Eyoel has since created a virtual counselling platform for Ethiopian couples living abroad, taking the reach a step further. Pastor Eyoel’s innovative approach has inspired other denominations to create virtual counselling platforms. This initiative has been a game-changer, connecting him with couples living in different countries and facilitating a space for shared experiences and advice.
