By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, Worthy News
ADDIS ABABA (Worthy News) – Police in Ethiopia still searched Thursday for a suspect in the killing of a Christian evangelist, who was murdered for “sharing the Good News of the Gospel” with others in his mainly Muslim community, Christians told Worthy News.
Ibrahim Mohammed “led 80 people to [Jesus] Christ” in Ethiopia’s Oromia region within a year after becoming “a follower of Jesus” in 2021, said advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), which followed the case.
Since then, “the passionate evangelist” devoted himself to discipling these new believers, VOMC added, referring to the process of helping others to grow in their Christian faith.
However, “As a result of his Christian witness, Ibrahim began receiving death threats from local Islamic militants. Despite the growing danger, he faithfully continued sharing the message of Christ,” till his death last month, VOMC stressed.
The dedicated believer was reportedly targeted after he donated a portion of his farmland to construct a church building. “When Ibrahim’s opponents discovered his plans, they became determined to stop the construction of the worship facility,” resulting in his killing, VOMC recalled.
“On May 15th, Ibrahim was approached by an armed individual who was dressed in traditional Islamic clothing. The assailant declared that it would be Ibrahim’s final day of evangelizing before suddenly shooting the Christian believer,” the group told Worthy News.
Christians told Worthy News that the latest reports say “a suspect has since been identified,” but he recently fled the area.
DETAILS SKETCHY
Details about the suspect or his possible links to Islamic militants were not immediately released.
Though rushed to the hospital, Ibrahim Mohammed succumbed to his injuries three days after the shooting, Christians said.
The Christian leaves behind his wife, two young children, and the church community he was “instrumental in building,” according to believers familiar with the situation.
VOMC said it had urged supporters to “Pray for greatly needed comfort, healing and peace on behalf of all who are mourning the loss of this dearly beloved servant of Christ.”
The group also prays for “continued growth of the ministry Ibrahim helped to build” and “that many more people throughout Ethiopia would come to know Christ as a result of his lasting spiritual legacy.”
Despite Ethiopia’s rich Christian heritage, persecution of devoted Christians comes from both the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) and Islamic extremists, according to investigators. “Christians from non-traditional denominations get the harshest treatment from local authorities and the EOC, while new believers and missionaries are hunted by extremists, forcing many to flee their homes,” added advocacy group Open Doors.
“In some regions, Christians are attacked by Islamist mobs and often denied community resources, leading to social isolation. Converts from Islam, especially in the east and southeast, and those from Orthodox backgrounds face intense family and community pressure,” it added.
Open Doors ranks Ethiopia 33rd on its annual World Watch List of 50 nations where it says Christians face the most persecution for their faith in Christ.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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