The Alaba of Ethiopia are a least-reached people with a population of 232,000 people and 94% Muslim. In fact, they say to be Alaba (of the land and the people) is to be Muslim.

However, several years ago, a group of churches had connections with the Alaba people. They also have a Global Disciples training program and sent some church planting teams into the villages. They started with prayer and then a small church planting center with half a dozen or so people.

Liya was a Muslim, a married mother in her early 40s with two teenage sons. When she heard the Good News, she eagerly accepted Christ as her personal Savior and Lord. She was so happy to be a Christian!

Her husband was not happy. Just 15 days after she put her faith in Jesus, Liya’s husband and his friends brutally beat and killed her.

The new fellowship of believers stepped into take care of Liya’s body and burial. The local government moved quickly to imprison her husband and his friends for murder.

Yet, God is redeeming this terrible situation. After seeing their mother’s faith in Jesus despite their father’s brutal action, Liya’s two teenage sons decided to follow Jesus! The local believers and the program director from the discipleship training took responsibility to help the boys.

When reporting this story, Global Disciples’ Ethiopian staff member said, “We need continuous prayers for the Alaba people—they are hostile to the Gospel, and the gates of hell are strong—that they be reached by the powerful Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

May God use the death of Liya to build His Kingdom among the Alaba.