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Thriving Bible work in Awassa
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| Aiemiitu Gebre Duguna runs a small Bible bookshop at the entrance to a church in Awassa, Ethiopia. She says that cheaper Bibles sell very well and that stocks often run out. Photo: Norwegian BS/Dag Smemo (ETH05DJ-58.JPG) |
By
UBS photojournalist Dag Smemo
ETHIOPIA — Staff at the Bible Society of Ethiopia had dreamed for many years of opening offices outside Addis Ababa. They were particularly keen to establish a presence in Awassa, an important town of around 250,000 people some 140 miles (224 kms) south of the capital. Whenever they looked at the cost, however, they realised that they simply could not afford it. Then one day three years ago a young woman came to Bible House and everything changed.
“This lady was 29 years old and worked for an airline,” recalls former General Secretary Ato Kebede Mamo. “She had seen the Bible Society sign outside and was curious about our work. She asked many questions about how we operated, our finances, our aims and our stocks. We mentioned that we had active plans to open a regional office but that we lacked the funds.
‘How much money do you need?’ she asked. ‘About Birr45,000 [now worth US$5,200],’ I replied. ‘I want to give you Birr50,000 [now worth US$5,700] to start this important project,’ she immediately responded. “She wrote out a cheque there and then!
“First we opened a shop in Awassa and then last year we were able to establish a branch office. We are still in contact with that young lady and she is very happy about the work we are doing in Awassa, operating out of the offices she funded.”
The three Bible Society staff who work in Awassa are members of a council for Bible work in the area, along with two representatives from the largest local churches. This gives Bible work here a strongly ecumenical flavour. Areas in which collaboration is taking place include distribution, literacy classes and translation (see also).
One of the places where Awassa’s Christians can obtain Bibles and other materials is the small bookshop run by Aiemiitu Gebre Duguna in a house at the entrance to an evangelical church. Her stock ranges from simple leaflets to smart, leather-bound Bibles.
“Most people buy the cheaper Bibles,” she says. “As soon as we get new copies they are quickly sold out. We simply cannot get enough Bibles!” (WR 397/16 - 11.05) [4 photos]