Mariam was born and raised in Shashamane. She is the eldest of four siblings, and she works to provide for her aging parents through a boutique she started when she was in her mid-twenties. She is a Christian, having placed her faith in Jesus Christ at a young age. Through her witness, her entire family came to Christ as well. Last year, attackers broke into her boutique, looted all the clothes and destroyed the entire property.
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Hassan’s appearance at a pastor’s conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was his response to what he believed was God’s call for him to focus on persecution. In fact, just months earlier, he had turned down a second term as Secretary-General of the Sudan Church of Christ so he could help prepare churches for persecution at a more grassroots level. During the November 2015 conference in Ethiopia, he told pastors about the increasing persecution his eight congregations were facing in Sudan. Among those in the audience during Hassan’s presentation was Petr Jasek, a Czech national who served as VOM’s Regional Director for Africa at the time. Petr was especially moved by a photograph Hassan showed of a young Christian man who had been injured during a demonstration. Weeks later, Petr traveled to Khartoum to meet the injured man and arrange to help cover his medical expenses. After a four-day visit, Petr prepared to leave the country. That’s when Hassan experienced what he considers one of the greatest blessings of his life. “Petr was arrested at the airport,” Hassan said, “and then, through investigations, they discovered that he had visited me and other people. That is why they arrested me.” The Price
Read MoreAlimayu grew up in in a Christian home in the northern part of Ethiopia. As a young man, he placed his faith in Christ and became an active member of a local church. He is married with two children, and he runs a small café in Shashemane. In July, youth mobs destroyed Alimayu’s business in riots that targeted the homes and businesses of non-indigenous people and Christians.
Read MoreTokuma lives in an area of Ethiopia dominated by tribal religions. When he became a Christian two years ago, he desired to grow in his faith, but there was only one Bible to share among the 20 members of his small church. Members took turns with the Bible, returning it to the church every Friday so their church planter could prepare for his Sunday teaching. But Tokuma hungered to know more.
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Tulu Mosisa was just a simple farm laborer who loved the Lord.He worked in the remote village of Nensebo Chebi in southernEthiopia in order to support his wife and five children, whoremained at home in another village. He also worshiped at a Protestantchurch there: Kale Hiwot Baptist Church. During the regular Sunday morning worship service, as Mosisa andhis Christian brothers and sisters were in the middle of prayer, menarmed with knives and machetes stormed into the church building. Atthe same time, about a half hour’s walk away at Birhane Wongel BaptistChurch, more armed men interrupted the service. They were militantMuslims, charged by their religious beliefs to cleanse the Muslim-dominated area of Christians. Mosisa had come to church that morning alone—his family was notwith him—but the congregation was composed of people of all ages,including women and children. The believers looked on helplessly as theirattackers barred all the church doors and windows, and then came atthem with their weapons. “Allahu Akbar!” (“Allah is great!”) the attackers shouted as theyswung their knives and machetes. The people were defenseless; theyscreamed and ran in all directions to avoid their assailants, but at leasttwenty-three were injured, two even losing their hands. Mosisa was killedwhen an attacker
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