Date of Award

4-1-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Exegetical Theology

First Advisor

Douglas Rutt

Scripture References in this Resource

Genesis 1:26–31; Genesis 2:13; Genesis 2:15; Genesis 3:9; Genesis 3:15; Genesis 4:8–11; Genesis 11:4; Genesis 12:1–4; Genesis 17:1–16; Genesis 22:1–19; Genesis 26:1–4; Genesis 28:13–15; Genesis 35:9–11; Exodus 8:1; Exodus 19:5–6; Exodus 19:16; Deuteronomy 5:4–5; 2 Samuel 7:18–19; Psalm 68:31; Isaiah 53:7; Isaiah 58:6; Isaiah 61:1–2; Matthew 11:28; Matthew 16:13–19; Matthew 28:16–20; Mark 1:18; Mark 16:15; Luke 4:18–21; Luke 10:3–5; Luke 19:10; John 1:14; John 1:18; John 3:16; John 6:25–30; John 14:6; John 17:14–18; John 20:21; John 20:31; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:5; Acts 8:26–40; Acts 9:1–9; Acts 13:1–4; Romans 1:22; Romans 10:13–14; 1 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 5:18–20; 1 Corinthians 11:27–29; 2 Corinthians 8:1–5; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 4:11–12; Colossians 1:25; 1 Peter 2:9

Abstract

Wondimu M. Game, “How the Economic Mindset Impedes the Faithful Practice of the Missional Call: A Case Study of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Global Mission Endeavors,” PhD Dissertation, Concordia Seminary, 2026, 278 pp.

This study examines the theological and missiological foundations of the indigenous church in light of the Venn–Anderson three-self principles of self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation. While these principles have shaped Protestant mission practice, their application has often become structural and economic rather than ecclesial and theological, In some contexts, this has contributed to patterns of financial dependency and weakened local initiative due to an impoverished economic mindset that views financial concerns as the primary factor limiting the mission activity of the church. Using the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus as a primary case study, this research explores how historical missionary paternalism and one-directional financial flow influenced both institutional development and ecclesial mindset. This study proposes a renewed framework grounded in the missio Dei, confessing that the church is created and sustained by the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments through the work of the Holy Spirit. Such a perspective affirms both local responsibility and catholic unity. It offers implications for mission partnerships that reflect biblical interdependence and confidence in God’s saving Word.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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