Evangelists arrested for ''creating social unrest''

10 September 2008

^Yonas

Yonas and Yerga (not their real names), two well-known evangelists in the Muslim-majority region of western Ethiopia, were arrested on August 25 and imprisoned on false changes of "creating social unrest," according to VOMC sources. Although the men were not physically tortured in prison, they said they were insulted, threatened and "very poorly treated." Both were released on September 5 but the charges against them were not dropped. At last report, they were scheduled to appear in court on September 8.

Pray that the Lord will continue to make these believers strong to withstand opposition. Pray that their family members will entrust the situation into His care. Pray that Christian leaders in Ethiopia will work together to increase Christ's kingdom at all cost (Ephesians 2:14-16).

To learn more about the trials facing Christians in Ethiopia, click here. You can also order a DVD entitled "Ethiopian Voices" from The Voice of the Martyrs and experience the courage and faith of our Ethiopian brothers and sisters. Click here to order a copy.

Ethiopia

Current Ministry Project
VOMC has partnered with a ministry to strengthen the witness of the local church by equipping evangelists with the means to build sustainability through the development of a small business in a tentmaker project.

Project Fund: Relief and Development
Country Information
Population
116,462,712 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Oromo (35.8), Amara (24.1), Somali (7.2), Tigray (5.7), Sidama (4.1), Guragie (2.6), Welaita (2.3), Afar (2.2), Silte (1.3), Kefficho (1,2), Other (13.5) (2022 est.)

Religion (%)
Ethiopian Orthodox (43.8), Muslim (31.3), Protestant (22.8), Catholic (0.7), traditional (0.6), other (0.8)

Leader
President Taye Atske Selassie (2024)

Government type
Federal parliamentary republic

Legal system
Civil law system

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for Ethiopia
Ask the Lord to direct Ethiopia's governmental leaders as they continue to work toward solutions to the ongoing religious tensions in the country. While this is taking place, pray that His people will not become weary in doing what is right. Rather, may they be further strengthened and encouraged to boldly proclaim the Gospel, overcoming hatred with the powerful love of Christ.

Ethiopia News

Orthodox Villages Attacked by Militant Muslims

Orthodox worshippers in Ethiopia.
Photo: Unsplash / Abanezer Shewaga

For more than 1,400 years, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has coexisted with Muslim communities in a unique truce with only occasional tension between them. (This long-standing relationship traces back to the year 615, when the King of Aksum granted asylum to a group of early Muslims.) Any subsequent religious opposition in Ethiopia has primarily been between adherents of one of these two religions and those belonging to other groups, including evangelical Christians. In recent months, however, there has been a troubling shift. Militant Islamic groups have reportedly begun targeting Orthodox Christian communities, particularly in areas of the country that are now primarily Muslim.

Read more...
Christian Workers Attacked While Constructing Church

This man was attacked while building a church.
Photo: VOM International

On April 7th, a group of Christians were working to construct a church building when they were violently attacked by a mob of Muslim militants. Armed with machetes, the attackers attempted to stop the construction, wounding several of the workers who were present.

Read more...
Open-Air Evangelists Attacked

These Christian evangelists were attacked
while preaching the Gospel.

On February 9th, two Christian evangelists were attacked by Muslim militants while preaching within an open-air market in central Ethiopia. As a result of the incident, both men suffered severe head injuries and thereby had to be transported to a local hospital. Details surrounding their current conditions have not yet been released at the time of publishing this report.

Read more...
Attacked Church Seeks New Meeting Location

The remains of the church building.
Photo: VOMC Ministry Partner

On July 29th, a small congregation in Ethiopia was attacked by hostile community members who were opposed to the church's presence in their village. During the incident, the attackers dismantled the simple shelter where the Christians had been meeting, and then they proceeded to steal its structural materials. (For more details about this incident, see this report.)

Read more...