I am Nigisti. I live and work in Adigrat, a city in the uppermost northern area of Ethiopia, bordering Eritrea. Growing up, I had the chance to hear the Good News repeatedly. After I rejected several people’s invitation to receive Jesus, my husband convinced me to follow Christ. Some time later, my husband had a brief illness and passed away.
Since I came to know Jesus, I’ve had a heart for mission. I especially want to share the Good News to my people. I began by sharing with my friends, relatives, and neighbors, and then I attended a Horn of Africa training event. This inspired and helped me reconfirm my calling as a missionary. At that point I decided to engage in full-time ministry and am confident in my calling.
Adigrat area is home to many Saho Irob people. Horn of Africa is targeting this people group to encourage the small beginnings of a movement to Christ.
Through one to one conversations, our team members find people hungry for the gospel. The Holy Spirit guided me to share the gospel with my former priest healer, who is known as a traditional healer in the area. Many people come and spending their nights in his compound. He uses “healing water” and at night would tell his clients folk tales to lull them to sleep. When I shared the Good News, He believed in Jesus and we gave him a talking Bible. He now plays the talking Bible for the people every night instead of telling stories. He is still afraid of praying for people in the name of Jesus for fear of persecution. But we continue to visit him and pray for the sick. Several of his clients have received Christ this way.
Community Life in Adigrat
Farmers in the rural areas depend on annual rain to produce crops including maize, barley and millet. However, the produce is too small to feed them through even half the year. The land is degraded with little agricultural productivity, due to centuries of traditional farming. Some of the residents also raise cattle. Young people often travel to towns and cities seeking employment.
Most of the people in the area are Catholic or Orthodox and are not interested in hearing about a personal relationship with Jesus since their traditional religion is so ingrained. Even people who are touched by the message are afraid to be excommunicated by their families and community.
Pray for Me
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to empower me for fruitful ministry
- Prayer for the community of Adigrat and the surrounding area to have receptive hearts toward the Good News and encounters with Jesus
- For the community’s resources to flourish
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