Growing Resilience in Ethiopia
There is a resilient little church plant called Maasha, located in a remote part of southern Ethiopia. The Maasha church has thrived despite fire, government persecution, local ridicule, and poverty.
But to understand Maasha, you need to meet her grandmother.
Years ago, the Ethiopia CMF Field Team planted a church in a nearby village called Gorey. The early years were difficult. CMF missionary Travis Weeks worked with a young worship leader, Gemachu, who had little experience preaching but took on the challenge with enthusiasm. The church faced struggles with hostile neighbors and finding a place to meet. Meanwhile, Gemachu and his wife, Ayantu, endured personal hardships, including a miscarriage and a difficult pregnancy.
During a visit to the village, my wife Allison and I drove Ayantu to her hometown for better medical care. The journey was dangerous due to political unrest, and in one town we were caught in a mob. Protesters attacked our car, shattering a rear window near Ayantu. By God’s grace, we escaped unharmed.
Despite challenges, the church grew strong under Gemachu’s leadership. It began planting churches in surrounding villages, including in Garba Dima. Three years ago, the Garba Dima church helped start a congregation in Maasha.
The Maasha church began in a grass hut next to the home of its pastor. As the church served the needy, opposition grew. Local Muslims burned down the pastor’s home and the church. But the believers, carrying the resilient spirit of their mother and grandmother churches, refused to give up. Other CMF-planted churches sent funds to rebuild, and CMF missionaries provided support.
Despite ongoing persecution—including a six-month government shutdown in 2024—the Maasha church thrived. It became known as the church for the poor and marginalized, drawing in people with disabilities.
The Maasha congregation is not rich in resources, but it has something greater: resilience. And now, inspired by its legacy, it dreams of planting a church of its own.