Reaching Out in Ethiopia
“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.” —2 Corinthians 9:10-11
Diriba and his friends have one main goal: to reach the people in their country who are not in Christ. They boldly wrote, asking WMP for help in reaching 5 million Ethiopians in the coming year and requesting one million Scripture booklets! What zeal and vision! While we could not provide that large a number, we offered to provide a beginning order in the languages they requested—Amharic and Oromic (Oromiffa), spoken by the majority of the 
people of Ethiopia as their first language—which will enable their team to give the story of Jesus and His love to many in this nation of 112 million.
Though bordered by nations often hostile to the preaching of the gospel, Ethiopia is blessed to have laws allowing for freedom of religion, and the doors are open for sharing the good news. The Joshua Project reports 37 unreached people groups in Ethiopia with a combined population of 33 million, almost one third the nation’s total population.
WMP’s national coordinator in Ethiopia, Samuel B., expressed how valuable literature is in doing the work of evangelism in his country. “One of the ways we get to share the gospel here in Ethiopia,” he wrote, “is through Scripture booklets. Literature has a way of getting to places where people can’t. It has a way of touching people’s hearts and changing their lives forever.”
During the recent pandemic, new opportunities emerged, and literature played a vital role in taking full advantage of those opportunities. In Ethiopia literature is especially used in reaching Muslims. During the pandemic, it was 
used more than ever because it was a safe way to share the gospel. In the northern part of the country, they saw great victory when one of their volunteers organized tables around the city, displaying different kinds of literature so people could come and see and take anything they wanted to read. It was a way he could share the gospel when the churches were closed. Samuel B. added, “Literature is also a way we reach people in prison. We have seen many prisoners’ lives changed through the literature.”
Although the gospel came to Ethiopia in the first century, many Christians today face persecution and confrontation. Muslims who have accepted Christ often face violence and death threats. Recent news reports tell of militant attacks on Christians, with many believers living with the ongoing threat of attack (Barnabas Fund, April 2021). By providing free topical Scripture booklets in the languages of the people, WMP comes alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ, offering tools for reaching out to those in need, even in sometimes hostile situations.
For almost 30 years World Missionary Press has provided Scripture booklets for Ethiopia, sending 3.7 million booklets to help various ministries as well as individuals and small groups. Biniyam G. is an example of an individual who wrote, “Me and my friend are born-again Christians who strive to solve one of the problems in our location—the English language. So, we are trying to train people with a different background. In this process we are going to give them Christian books [in English] as working materials to read and discuss. Besides that, we need to read these books to grow in our spiritual understanding of the Word of God.” He ordered three copies of each of our English titles.
On behalf of his ministry, James M. wrote, “It’s been a year and a day since we last spoke via email, and I am happy to note we passed out every single gospel booklet you sent us at this time last year.…Thousands of people in the most remote and tribal places on earth are being evangelized by the dear missionaries I support. I just got notice that they need more, so I am reaching out to get another year’s worth (or so). We are in need and praying for 7,000 copies of Help from Above in Oromiffa (Borana).”
Ethiopia is no longer locked down, and our national coordinator reports that they are doing the work of the ministry across the nation. “To sum up,” he wrote, “literature is essential to reach countries like Ethiopia with the gospel. It is a shining hope for the people in the rural areas that have never heard the name, Jesus Christ; for the Muslim girl who has no way of reading the Word of God; and for those that have backed away from God and need encouragement to go back to Him. Literature is the way many people’s lives are changed for the better.”
WMP will soon be sending the 40-foot container (2 million booklets) requested by Samuel B. The door is open, hearts have been prepared, the workers are ready, and it’s time for them to receive the precious seed of God’s Word. Will you help them go boldly through the open doors and reach out to those who have never heard the precious name of Jesus?
[You can help provide God’s Word for Ethiopia and the world. Every donated dollar helps produce 29 powerful Scripture booklets for people around the world in their own language. An investment of $100 will touch the lives of 2,900 people; $1,000 will impact 29,000 people who need to know God.]
Grateful Quotes
“Help from Above saved my life.”
“We have a community labour booking office from which we’d like to distribute Help From Above booklets in terms of evangelism.
“One of these booklets really helped me to get to know God after trying to commit suicide. I found the booklet in a Muslim person’s home, so I believe it sometimes may not be for the person who takes the booklet but for somebody elsewhere, just as it saved my life.”
—R.P., South Africa
Meet the Team
In Memory of Robert G. Moore, Sr.
April 12, 1937—February 21, 2021
Board of Directors (1980-2020)
“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16b).
Bob Moore lived this verse, sharing the gospel with all through word and deed. Bob often witnessed to others and helped those in need, including them in his network of friends. When the Lord put someone on Bob’s heart, he prayed faithfully for them, sometimes for years.
Bob frequently brought people to the Press for a tour, chapel, or invited them to WMP’s anniversary celebration. He was generous, always first to pay the tab at a restaurant or get involved in a project. Most importantly, Bob was a strong believer in the power of God’s Word. He served as a board member for 40+ years (chairman for 11), and on the Finance Committee for many years. During his decades of service, Bob had a major role in making WMP the ministry it is today.
Bob was funny and quick-witted. Often, when meetings got lively, Bob would make a joke to get everyone laughing. He also brought his business savvy to our discussions, lending valuable experience. Even when a decision didn’t go his way, he supported it once it was made. He valued and exemplified unity.
In 1988, Bob wrote, “I believe in World Missionary Press because I believe it is the most efficient way to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. The printed Word eliminates the possibility of building a monument to men. It is the purest form of the Word incarnate – Christ Himself. Habakkuk 2:14 says it best: ‘For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.’ I am happy to be a small part of the fulfillment of that verse.”
During Bob’s tenure, WMP produced nearly 2 billion pieces of gospel literature. Imagine the souls reached! How many are even now thanking Bob for the part he played in introducing them to Jesus? WMP will miss Bob greatly; we look forward to seeing him again in the presence of the Lord.
WMP Partners Around the World
Frans K.
Indonesia
Frans K. has served as the WMP National Coordinator in Indonesia since 2010. Because printed materials in national languages may not be imported, WMP materials are printed in Indonesia under Frans’ capable direction and reporting. After the death of his precious wife, Frans took up the task of translating
WMP’s new God Loves You! coloring book into Indonesian.
WMP: How are you able to distribute WMP literature in your country?
Frans: We partner with individuals, churches, Christian organizations, bookstores, and schools, providing material for revival meetings, pastor’s meetings, prison ministry and mission outreaches to other islands.
WMP: How have the pandemic, natural disasters, and attacks by militant Islamists affected distribution and effectiveness of the Scripture booklets?
Frans: PRAISE THE LORD, in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic pressures and challenges in life, God has still poured out His love. He gave us Sunday School teachers, volunteers, evangelists, and pastors, in many and wide opportunities to bring the Good News to many young and old through distributing WMP booklets.
WMP: Can you tell us about the reception of the new God Loves You! coloring book and Bible studies you recently printed?
Frans: God used those booklets as tools to reach many children and adults. A group of the Sunday School teachers visited an island near Manado, the Island of Siladen, 1.5 hours by small boat. They gave the Bible studies on John and Mathew to the pastor of the Protestant church in the island. These booklets brought them to know more of Jesus Christ the Savior and confirm their faith in this time of great challenges.
WMP: How can our readers pray for you and Indonesia?
Frans: We need prayer for distribution of the WMP booklets to people and churches who ordered, and for our volunteers and staff in the field. It’s our determination that as long as God gives us time and opportunities, we will proceed to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will continue to distribute these booklets to many places in Indonesia. We would like to express our gratitude to WMP Director, staff, and donors that make every effort to provide, print and distribute the booklets through WMP Indonesia. Thank you very much. In the precious name of CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
In the past four months, Frans has overseen the printing of 1.3 million WMP Scripture booklets, Bible studies, and salvation coloring books in the Indonesian language to send throughout this predominantly Muslim nation of 276 million people, spread over thousands of islands.