TORONTO–A struggling young congregation of Ethiopian immigrants in Toronto, meeting in rented quarters and without a fulltime pastor, has sent out its own missionary.

Binora Dado returned to Geregema in southern Ethiopia in November 1994, supported by Bethlehem Evangelical Church in Toronto. The son and heir of a highly feared local sorcerer, Binora had survived previous attempts on his life due to his conversion to Christ.

Since that time some 3,000 converts have been reported and seven churches have been planted.

The story began more than 30 years ago when the first wife of a much-feared sorcerer, a man with 13 other wives and numerous concubines, became pregnant once more. Although she had never before delivered a living child, she believed this time might be different. She named her new son "Binora," meaning "If he lives!" She then died.

Light years away

Despite the very high rate of infant mortality locally, Binora survived. In 1976 he traveled to the regional capital Arba Minch to go to school. This move represented more than distance measured in kilometres. It was light years away for a boy whose father was considered almost a god, second only to the sun god whose children, the stars, rule the planets.

There in Arba Minch, teenage Binora met an Ethiopian evangelist, Tadese Aisa, who led him to faith in Jesus Christ. When the Marxist government began to persecute Christians a few years later, Binora fled to Sudan.

As a refugee, Binora held on to his faith and eventually landed in Canada, arriving in St. John’s, Newfoundland, later moving to Toronto. He acquired all the right things–citizenship, a decent job, a car, an apartment. He helped found Bethlehem Evangelical Church, now sharing space in Calvary Church.

In 1992, Binora returned for a visit to his home village and found his people living exactly as he had left them. His father, nearly 70, still maintained harsh control.

Escaping attempts on his life by his enraged father, Binora returned to Toronto. He could not forget what he had seen. Soon he poured out his burden to the elders of Bethlehem Church. How could he live in the comfort of Canada when his own people were in such need? Ammanuel Bahta, one of the elders, stated, "God gave him a burning desire to preach which he could not ignore."

Urging of God

The elders of Bethlehem Evangelical Church met in prayer in 1994. As Efrem Leakemariam, now the pastor, put it, "We felt the urging of God to step out in faith. But how could we do it? We had no money! We were such a young congregation!" Prayerfully, they did it anyway.

In early November 1994, Binora boarded a Lufthansa flight for Addis Ababa. Days later he made his way south to Geregema, accompanied by his evangelist-mentor, Tadese.

What followed was dramatic. An unseen hand lifted Binora’s father into the air and then flung him into the trees. The people who were watching accepted the gospel upon hearing it. The sorcerer lost all control over the people.

"Wood for the walls" of the new church building came from "the very trees they had worshipped for years," Binora wrote. "Even the fortune-tellers and the magicians are seemingly compelled to take an active part in cutting the trees."

Since then a road has been built into this remote area, medical and educational work begun and a mill to grind grain installed. Assistance has come from various levels of government as well as the Kale Heywet Church of Ethiopia and other agencies.

Two years after Binora’s return, in November 1996, his father accepted Christ and was baptized a month later. Since then the septuagenarian former sorcerer has been joyfully preaching the gospel himself. Today the young church in Geregema is a centre of missionary activity, sending teams to outlying villages.

Many financial needs, however, remain unmet, although Bethlehem Evangelical Church continues its support.

"This is like the days of Antioch and how missions began," says Ian Campbell, senior pastor of Calvary Church. "Very few trappings... where the elders met and prayed over every step. It has been a privilege to watch!"

Diane Dadian is a former missionary to Ethiopia who in recent years has been very active helping newcomers settle in Canada. She attends Calvary Church.