The African country of Ethiopia has a long church history, going back to early days. One of the most sacred places for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the northern town of Lalibela.

But when I traveled there, I found myself in an area with no tolerance for Evangelical Christians.

Lalibela's eleven Ethiopian Orthodox Churches are some of the world's greatest architectural marvels, and attract tourists from all over the world

Each church was carved out of a solid piece of red rock in the 12th century. Historians say the churches were built by King Lalibela to mark his conversion to Christianity. Legend says the churches were completed in 24 years with angel help. Historians believe it was 100 years with Egyptian help.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church-while a member of the Oriental Orthodox Church-suffered from isolation for many centuries. So, over time, sadly, it incorporated unbiblical elements into worship and practice. Their worship includes many Old Testament practices such as high priests and a holy of holies in each church building, complete with a replica of the ark of the covenant.

Reading of the Bible is generally discouraged. Certain myths and legends are considered as authoritative as the Bible, even though they contradict the scriptural teaching.

The Ethiopian church has a long history of not tolerating other expressions of Christianity.

Wendalem Legese is an Evangelist to Lalibela. Speaking to us when away from Lalibela, he said, "The Orthodox Church considers Lalibela one of the holiest cities of the church. And they are very aggressive on the Protestant Christians; they don't want them there. Even the government officials and the police are from the Orthodox. They don't protect them-Christians are open to danger there."

Zuriash Demeke, 25, and Aster Askele, 24, are very aware of the dangers of being a follower of Jesus in Lalibela, and know what it's like to be driven from their homes and beaten.

Zuriash became a Christian 9 years ago, at age16. Four months after receiving Christ, she was forced to leave her father's home in Weldia. She went to live with her mother in Lalibela. When the people there found out she was an Evangelical Christian they put pressure on her mother to remove her from the home. No one would take her in.

Zuriash found a temporary refuge; she said, " I invited other Christians that had been chased out of their homes, and were in the same situation as me. We began living together. At that time there was severe persecution in Lalibela."

These Christians prayed and worshipped together for 2 years. But 3 years ago a mob from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church showed up at their house

Zuriash told what happened, "That day they came to the house and told us to go out. And we said, 'No, we will not go out.' They began destroying rooms, crushing the roof and walls. Then they stopped destroying the house and began beating us with sticks. They said we were 'degrading and defiling the land'."

"My back was badly injured," Zuriash said, "I couldn't move. My arms were injured."

Zuriash was only one of 10 Christians beaten that day. She described the injuries of others, "Their heads and backs were beaten by sticks and rocks, and all over their bodies were injured."

Aster Askele was also beaten that day. She became a Christian 7 years ago, at age 17.
She described the persecution, "Seven of us Christians were students, all chased from our homes. We were living together. We had no income at that time. We were starving. No one was willing to give us water. We were not even allowed to trade or buy anything, No one would sell us anything. Sometimes we would get food, but many times we didn't have anything to eat."

When it seemed life couldn't get worse for Aster, it did. She was beaten and suffered serious injuries. "My backbone was broken," she said. "I couldn't walk or bend. I couldn't walk and needed help. I couldn't sit or stand after the attack. Even today," she said, "I sometimes feel pain when I carry heavy loads, and when I'm not eating properly."

If Aster had recanted her faith in Jesus she could have returned to her family, and lived a comfortable life, but instead she has chosen a much more difficult road. She commented, "It's hard to leave my family, it's very painful. I love my family very much, my brothers and sisters-all of them.

"But," Aster said, "more than anything else, what Jesus did for me in His love, is greater. Therefore I get courage when I think about Jesus."

There are only about 20 Christians left from the Full-Gospel Church of Lallibela, that still live here. The rest, like Zuriash and Aster, have been forced to flee. Those who've stayed can't meet for public worship, because they're watched too closely. So they get together in groups of two and three where they won't draw a lot of attention.

Wendalem Legese who still serves as an Evangelist to Lalibela, said, "It's very hard for us to gather together, all of us. So we meet 1 or 2 believers. We can not sing any kind of songs or pray out loud, because if they hear that-praying or singing-they will automatically destroy the house, and beat us."

"Even though we are using this strategy," Wendalem said, "they know the houses of Christians and still beat them."

While there are many difficulties and dangers working in Lalibela, Wendalem is committed to strengthening the believers there, and seeing many more people come to Jesus.

Wendalem added, " When I was sent to that area, I found 5 Christians. Now there are more. We have a promise that one day God will give that area to the Christians. We believe, like Nicodemus in the Bible, God will speak to people there-about the truth. We believe miraculous things will happen."

The hostility faced by Ethiopia's Evangelicals hasn't stopped them from spreading the Gospel.

In fact, Ethiopian preachers have been actively sharing their faith in many areas hard-hit by drought, poverty and war.

According to Charisma News Service, they've preached the gospel to over 1.2 million Ethiopians in the last six years, and they've started 500 new Evangelical churches.

For more information, go to www.persecution.net.