January 2026
Parish Nurse Ministry in Ethiopia (as shared by Jean M Mau DNP, Parish Nurse)
In Ethiopia, healthcare access is a significant challenge, especially for the poor and those in rural areas. With less than one doctor per 10,000 people and limited access to essential medicines, the Parish Nurse Ministry aims to bridge this gap. By training parish nurses, providing medical supplies, and organizing medical mission trips, the ministry empowers the Church to serve as a vital link between underserved communities and the healthcare services they urgently need.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Northern Illinois District Parish Nurses are collaborating with the Master Builder Center and the Ethiopian Evangelical Lutheran Church Mekene Yesus (EECMY) to launch this initiative in Southern Ethiopia, with plans to expand nationwide over the next five years. The EECMY is the fastest growing Lutheran denomination in the world and in working relationship with the LCMS.
The parish nurse team is facilitated by Dr. Marcy Schnorr, educational consultant, and international liaison for the council. Other parish nurse members of the faculty include: Sylvia Baker RN (NID), Doyle Bosque RN (Eastern District Rep) Mary Hume RN (Kansas District Rep) Dr. Jean Mau (NID) Dianne Weber RN (Southeastern District Rep) and Deaconess Dianna Bonfield (Lutheran Church Charities liaison with the NID Parish Nurse Network).
A 3-day workshop was presented at the Hosanna synod (district) in southern Ethiopia, January 10-13, 2026. The workshop had representatives from each of the 50 synods (districts). These nurses will function much like our district reps and will recruit and equip others within their own synod (district) so that parish nursing is in each synod (district). Pastors from the districts were present at the workshop, supporting the mission of parish nursing in Ethiopia. 46 nurses and 3 physicians completed the three-day Parish Nurse Course and were presented with a certificate of completion and pinned by a member of the team. Welcome to these new Parish Nurses!
Access to medical care and medications is not available to most of the people who are poor or living in rural areas. The government runs all the hospitals and medical care facilities. The Parish Nurse Ministry will allow the church to become the bridge to the poor and most vulnerable for needed medical care. The medical team brought 6, 50 pound suitcases filled with donated medical supplies which were delivered to the Parish Nurse Ministry, after course conclusion.
For more information about either of these opportunities, please contact Dr. Marcy Schnorr, EdD, RN-BC. You may phone her at 815-562-2744 or 815-562-6823 or email to marcyschnorr2009@gmail.com. Marcy is the education consultant and international liaison for the LCMS Parish Nurse Council and serves as Director Church Ministry-Parish Nurse at St. Paul Lutheran Church Rochelle, IL.
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