A simple act of reading the bible doesn’t warrant much attention in some parts of the world. But in the small farming community in Ethiopia where Bedru* and his family live, it resulted in intense persecution. The area is primarily governed by Islam, which is more than just religion, but a way of life.
When Bedru and his wife and children converted from Islam to follow Jesus Christ, hatred, stones, and rejection became their portion. Yet, they remain resolute to stay both in Christ, and in that area.
No turning back from Jesus
“How they found out that I had become a Christian? They saw a Bible in my hands. As soon as they saw the Bible, harsh persecution started,” Bedru recalls. “My wife, my children and I, we all came to Jesus at the same time. The community around us did not follow us. They came to us with stones. Every evening and every morning they threw stones at us.”
As known believers in their rural community, the family was met with hatred for upsetting the status quo. They lost everything when angered Muslims set their house on fire, hoping the flames would succumb the family. “My house was burnt down during a general period of persecution when groups of fanatics moved around burning houses and shouting, Allahu Akubar (God is most great) vowing to burn down the houses of the believers. They also came to us and burnt down my house… We stood there singing, ‘King of Heaven and Earth, Lord, have mercy on us.’ Like that I prayed, holding my children together.”
Bedru, his wife and children escaped with their lives, but they were all physically and mentally impacted. When the family was singing beside their burning house, something terrible happened. The youngest son, who at the time was still a toddler, was thrown into the flames. “When we ran out of our burning house, the crowd grasped my boy and threw him back into the fire. I ran back into the flames and rescued him and also some of my cattle. But then they cut down my coffee plantation and destroyed everything I had.”
Fortified in faith
Bedru brought his family to a safe place, but only for a short time. While others would understandably move away to somewhere safer, Bedru wanted to return to his farm despite the dangers it harboured. He wanted to be the salt and the light of Jesus in his area.
Through ministry partners in Ethiopia, the family was able to restart their lives after this incident. Bedru received oxen to help him work the land, and assistance to build a new house. His faith has been strengthened by this trial. “Christ feels like a big light in me. Life with Him is wonderful. I have suffered a lot, but there is nothing that can take me back from continuing this journey with Him. My property was burnt down. A few times people have poured chemicals on my yield. They have stolen my maize. They threatened to take some of my land. Despite all of this, my wife and I have never felt like leaving the faith. Even my children do not want to go back to Islam.”
