Featured

Christian Workers Attacked While Constructing Church

Voice of the Martyrs USA 14 May 2026

A man is being treated for an injury on his head. — 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.

The believers had been constructing the building in western Ethiopia, near the border with Sudan. Despite prior warnings to abandon the project, they continued because there was no place for Christians in the region to gather for worship. Even after the attack and their resulting injuries, the workers persevered with the construction project.

To review additional reports concerning the opposition experienced by Christians in this East African country, as well as specific ways you can pray for our persecuted Ethiopian family in Christ, go to our country profile.

Pray for the complete healing of the physically injured and/or emotionally traumatized church workers, asking that they would also tangibly experience God's comfort, strength and peace in the aftermath of this recent attack.
As the believers of the mentioned Ethiopian congregation endeavour to meet together and courageously serve the Lord amid opposition, may they consistently extend His love and forgiveness to the neighbouring members of their community – even touching the lives of the perpetrators involved in the mob attack.
Ask God to soften the hearts of those in Ethiopia who are resistant to the Gospel, drawing them to Himself and revealing His truth and grace in life-changing ways.

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...