The Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church (EKHC) is the largest denomination in Ethiopia, boasting over 12 million members and 14,000 local churches. Founded in 1927 by the American medical missionary Dr. Thomas Lambie, EKHC has provided comprehensive spiritual and developmental ministries for the last 98 years across the nation and beyond. 

The EKHC Professional Ministry / Discipleship Marketplace Leadership (DML) serves to remind believers that they are created on purpose for a purpose. It inspires marketplace professionals and business owners to live a life worthy of Christ as an act of everyday worship in all spheres of influence. 

Vision, Mission, and Core Pillars

• Vision: To reclaim the redeemed Marketplace through church-based Business as Mission (BAM) and bring it under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. 
• Mission: To empower the local church to establish and run successful Marketplace Ministries—equipping, encouraging, and discipling business owners to achieve a quadruple bottom line: Spiritual, Social, Economic, and Environmental. 

Our Three Strategic Pillars:

• Equipping: Preparing every believer to carry the message of redemption into the marketplace. 
• Discipling: Training believers to view and practice their daily work as an act of worship. 
• Empowering: Strengthening business owners to glorify God through ethical and impactful enterprises. 

Our History

The DML journey began in 2016 following an introductory workshop at Evangelical Theological College (ETC) led by Dr. Renita Reed Thomson and Dr. Phil Walker. Inspired by the vision, Pastor Yoseph Bekele shared the burden with key EKHC leaders, including Dr. Kurse Shefeno (General Secretary) and Dr. Woyta Woza (Deputy General Secretary). 

With leadership approval, an official ministry section was established at the EKHC Head Office. Following partnerships with Kingdom Priest Ministries (KPM) and intensive Training of Trainers (TOT) programs in Kenya, manuals and strategic frameworks were developed, officially launching the full ministry journey in 2017. 

Who We Partner With

The Professional Ministry works closely across multiple sectors: 

• EKHC Administrative Structures & Local Congregations 
• Business Leaders Fellowships & Business Groups 
• Youth & University Students 
• Family, Women’s, and Children’s Ministries 
• Theological Colleges & Bible Schools 
• Prison Ministries, Farmers, and Mission Sending Agencies 

Key Programs & Transformational Impact

• Core Trainings: Business as Mission (BAM), Basic Business & Saving Skills, Work Ethics, Entrepreneurship, Stewardship, Time Management, Conflict Resolution, and Kingdom Generosity. 
• Mentorship & Coaching: Providing ongoing coaching for individuals, business groups, and emerging entrepreneurs. 
• Key Achievements & Impact:
  • Cultivating strong personal and family devotion habits among professionals. 
  • Transforming business practices—leading to faithful tax compliance and government recognition. 
  • Boosting local church revenues, tithes, and missionary funding. 
  • Reducing local unemployment through job creation and eco-friendly investments. 
  • Empowering inmates within prisons to run businesses and support mission work. 
  • Providing micro-loan opportunities for wives of evangelists and missionaries to build sustainable income.