Attack on Ethiopian Christians worshipping in church services leaves 4 dead, 70 injured

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By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

ETHIOPIA (ANS) — Last week, Christians gathering at local churches in a southern region in Ethiopia were enjoying singing and worship when, without warning, hundreds of men armed with machetes and clubs leapt through the open windows and indiscriminately began attacking everyone present. The attackers barricaded the doors to try to prevent people from escaping.

Envoy Ministries (www.envoyministries.org ) says that when the carnage was complete, there were three Ethiopian church planters (missionaries) dead, one more person died March 9, and more than 70 were injured, with 40 people sustaining serious injuries. The death toll is expected to rise. Hundreds fled the area and are being cared for by Christians in other towns.

David Hunt, President of Envoy Ministries, says the attack occurred on March 3, when initially three people were killed. One person later died of wounds sustained in the attack, and seven people remain in hospital.

Hunt told ASSIST News: “Three days ago evangelists began flowing into a nearby town and in one day more than 30 evangelists begged to be sent back into exact area. Yesterday we committed to support the first ten with $60 monthly — today the 10 headed back to the area saying ‘We are ready to lay down our lives.’”

The Envoy Ministries website says that why such brutal attacks would take place is hard to understand, except that as the Gospel has flourished in Ethiopia and as people put their faith in Christ, others, violently opposed to the Gospel, do anything they can to stop the proclamation of the Gospel.

The site goes on to state: “However, Jesus said, ‘I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.’ Truly we are seeing that being borne out in the Church in Ethiopia and in the lives of our brave brothers and sisters in Christ.”

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