Page 17 - Voice-of-the-Persecuted-Christians-Apr-Jun2024-126

Ethiopian Orthodox background. Evangelicals constitute about 18
per cent of the population, while Muslims are reckoned to account
for about 31 per cent. Although Ethiopia enjoys full freedom of religion, in Muslim-majority parts
of the country, particularly in the southwest and in the east, the threat of persecution remains for followers of Christ. In some areas Christian- owned properties, including church buildings, have been destroyed. Believers have been beaten and some have even been killed.
At the same time, the challenge of mission is considerable. He said some people were ‘working for a Christian- free Ethiopia. They sponsor young Christian girls to go to the Middle East – and many come back with a [new religious] identity. It is tragic. Many Ethiopian evangelical churches are not mission-minded. They don’t plan for mission. This is our challenge. They are very narrow-minded. They don’t see how wide mission is.’ A cross-cultural mission centre has been established, where the main purpose is to train and equip people who have a passion to reach their friends and neighbours with the gospel.
At the same time, since the start
of the millennium Christians from neighbouring Eritrea, fleeing that country’s oppressive, one-party regime, have ended up in refugee camps in northern Ethiopia. Release International partners have, over a number of years, supported those who have fled, providing practical
as well as spiritual care and running training programmes to equip people to re-build their lives.
Baptising a new Ethiopian believer in Christ
Other work has included providing motorcycles for church planters; supporting the education of children whose parents have come to faith; helping create micro-businesses
Now Release International is also partnering with another ministry seeking to reach out with the gospel to indigenous peoples in Ethiopia.
believers are being added despite extremists persecuting them. They pass through difficult challenges. They have had houses and fields burned. Families pay a high price for their faith,’ our partner said.
for the spouses of church planters; providing Bibles for those who come to faith; and publishing tracts and discipleship materials. Those who experience persecution as a result of their change of religion are provided with practical support and rehabilitation.
‘The cornerstone of this work is equipping the evangelists’
The work is reaching people of
all ages and backgrounds. ‘We are working with younger people and older people. We saw one elder who is more than 100 years old come to Christ!’
* Names changed to protect identities.
One of the leaders of this ministry said: ‘Muslims don’t want to see Christianity in Ethiopia and are working for economic and political supremacy. We are under pressure.’
A CHRISTIAN-FREE ETHIOPIA
Our partner, also supported by one
of Release International’s sister organisations in Europe, provides evangelistic training for frontline workers in different parts of Ethiopia, as well as supporting and sheltering persecuted Christians.
Pray for gospel witness in Ethiopia
Our new partners in Ethiopia have a strong vision for seeing non-believers won for Christ but they, and those who come to faith, face significant challenges.
• Pray for those being trained to take the gospel to unreached communities
• Pray for the Lord’s protection of frontline workers in various parts of Ethiopia
• Pray for comfort and peace for those who have suffered for their new-found faith in Christ
• Pray that our partners will be adequately supported in order to rehabilitate and care for those who have experienced persecution
• Pray that many will come to know Jesus Christ through our partner’s work
A number of churches have been planted in recent years and, our partners say, have seen thousands coming to faith in Christ. ‘The cornerstone of this work is equipping the evangelists who come from different Christian denominations and different Islamic backgrounds. Many
of them are former imams, Islamic teachers and former persecutors. These
17