Bizuayehu Abera of Ethiopia follows in the footsteps of Joseph in the Bible

I have been the Tigray relief project coordinator for Meserete Kristos Church Development Commission (MKCDC) for the past four years. Because of this work, people gave me a new name. They called me Joseph, after one of the most renowned figures in the Bible, who saved his family and all of Egypt during the famine.

Bizuayehu Abera holds his daughter, Medan, and stands with his wife, Senayt, after being reunited. Because of the war, Abera was separated from his wife and daughter for a year.

The war that broke out in Tigray has profoundly affected our lives. During the conflict, many people were killed by both the Ethiopian National Defense Force and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. In addition, many homes were intentionally destroyed using heavy artillery.

Families have lost their sons, daughters and homes, leaving them in a state of profound grief and loss. Among those who perished were my aunt’s son, and also a Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) missionary, whom I considered my spiritual son. (MKC is a Mennonite church and an MCC partner in Ethiopia.) The memory of these losses weighs heavily on my heart.

I grew up in the church, and I have served with various MKC churches and church plants for 16 years. Currently I am a pastor for the MKC congregation in Mek’ele, the capital of Tigray.

My primary interest lies in work that focuses on community development and growth. I have a bachelor’s degree from Meserete Kristos College in peace and conflict transformation and a diploma in legal services. The expertise and skill I have gained fuel my passion to assist those who require support and courage.

At the beginning of the war, I shared information about the situation directly with MKC’s head office in Addis Ababa and via social media. Despite the inherent risks, I assumed the responsibility of being a voice for the people suffering from hunger in Tigray.

After MKC sent a first round of MCC-supported relief supplies to Tigray, I brought a relief report to Addis Ababa. But while I was there, everything went under blockade, and I was stranded for a year.

I had no means of communication with my family, like telephone or internet. I was completely cut off from my wife, child and other relatives.

I was worried about how they were eating. I was concerned that the war would cause many deaths, sickness and much damage. I had internal anxiety, which I shared with nobody, that drone attacks in Mek’ele streets might kill my family.

While in Addis, I continued working with MKC’s Development Commission. I proposed the idea to MCC representatives to bring cash to Tigray on a United Nations airplane to help my people. They studied the idea and then agreed.

When I arrived at the airport, I would board the plane, keeping the bag containing the money securely under my feet. Undeniably there was a fear associated with carrying a large amount of money.

The entire process was extremely stressful and filled with tension. But God never let us down.

We utilized the local bank in Wukro (another Tigray municipality impacted by the conflict), depositing funds through the local banking system to accounts set up for each recipient. In Mek’ele, we directly distributed funds to beneficiaries in the beginning, until we could work through its bank.

Whenever I arrived in Mek’ele, the people were full of hope. For instance, once a young girl saw me arrive and quickly ran home to tell her mother. Her mother responded, “Why didn’t you tell me that Jesus has come? Don’t you know that when Bizuayehu arrives, it means God has arrived?”

Bizuayehu Abera, Tigray relief project coordinator for Meserete Kristos Church Development Commission (MKCDC), speaks with Gash Tareka Gebreyesus, a beneficiary of MKCDC’s cash transfers.

I felt my contribution was minimal, but the community’s profound thankfulness led them to nickname me for the Joseph that we read about in the book of Genesis (who not only helped his people, but was also separated from his family). This experience reminded me of God’s past work in my life that prepared me for a time such as this.

Personally, these past four years stand out as a period where my faith was profoundly tested by the devastating impact of the war; the multitude of challenges and upheavals experienced by the whole nation and my family; and the uncertainty I felt when my movements were restricted in my own country.

My prayer life faced its own tests as I grappled with questions like why these events were happening despite my prayers, why God seemed silent and why intervention appeared delayed. In many ways, these experiences and questions tested the core of my faith, challenging me to find resilience and trust amid uncertainty and adversity.

When I finally returned to my family and children after the peace agreement, I was overwhelmed with tears of joy as I rejoiced in seeing them after such an unforgettable war and situation. I wanted to stay with them, but I felt I needed to continue to travel back and forth to Addis Ababa for MKCDC.

Sometimes taking risks is necessary to effectively assist people who are vulnerable and disadvantaged. By taking these risks, I aimed to embody a life of service, prioritizing the needs of others above personal safety.

This initiative provided me with the opportunity to become a bridge of peace, love and compassion. It positioned me as an intermediary for the people of the country, especially those in Tigray, fostering understanding and unity.

Bizuayehu Abera, who is based in Mek'ele in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region, is a pastor in the Meserete Kristos Church and the Tigray relief project coordinator for MKC’s Development Commission.