Gebre was one of the first Me’en to become a follower of Christ. He has grown in Christlikeness as seen in his love for his wife and children, and also in his deep concern for people who don’t know Jesus. Many of his extended family, in rejecting Christ, also actively reject Gebre and seek to harm him. Several times there have been attempts on his life.

A few months ago, he was walking to Me’en territory far to the south of his home. Late on the fourth day, three armed men suddenly emerged from the tall grass and roughly confronted Gebre. “Are you a believer?” they asked. “Yes,” he replied, “What do you want with me?”

“We want to believe,” they replied. “We heard a rumor that someone would come along this trail with a message about a god who has power over the evil spirits. Are you the person we heard about?”

“I must be,” admitted Gebre. “Sit down and I’ll tell you about God and how you can know Him.”

“No! Not here,” said the three. “You have to come with us.” Uncertain of what might happen, he pushed on with them through the shoulder-high grass for about an hour until they emerged at a clearing. The men called their wives, children, and relatives together and the leader announced, “He’s come.” Turning to Gebre, he demanded, “Now, tell us about your god and how we can know him.”

By sundown, 15 of the villagers, including the three armed men, had made decisions to follow Christ and to renounce the power of the evil spirits. Within a month, another 150 had become believers. Three churches have been formed, and many of the converts baptized. Dawit, a young Me’en believer, has joined Gebre in this missionary outreach to the lowland Me’en.