How is a church born? \u00a0In Soddo, it happened like this:<\/p>\n
In 1928, the Lambies had arrived in Soddo to set up the mission station. \u00a0Along with them were the Rhoad family, and three single men: Glen Cain, Walter Ohman, and Clarence Duff. \u00a0They were invited to set up their homes in a place called Otona which sat atop a foothill just to the east of Mt. Damota. \u00a0(Soddo sits in the shadow of Mt. Damota which was named for\u00a0a previous king in this area).<\/p>\n
They set to work building their homes which were made of local materials. \u00a0According to SIM’s policy, they were to have the luxury of a bathtub and a cook stove in the home, “so as to add to the missionaries’ comfort.” \u00a0They spent their days in the homes of the Wolaitta people, learning their language with one goal in mind: to be able to formulate a Gospel presentation to the people. \u00a0 They established a clinic\u00a0to provide practical help to the people in that area as well.<\/p>\n
In 1929, their forces expanded. \u00a0The mission team was joined by the Lewis family, Selma Bergstren, and a nurse named Ruth Bray. \u00a0Within two years, the team\u00a0had learned the local language enough to present the Gospel. \u00a0They began preaching at Otona to those who were coming to the clinic – combining physical and spiritual ministry just as we do today at Soddo Christian Hospital. \u00a0One day, a young man named Wandaro happened to come by and hear the preaching.<\/p>\n
Wandaro was from Humbo, a little south of Soddo, and his father was a well-known witch doctor there. \u00a0On that day, Wandaro had been on his way to the market at Soddo, when a terrible thunderstorm hit, and he ducked into the clinic in Otona to get out of the rain. \u00a0It was there that he first heard the Gospel, which he said sounded like “honey to his stomach.” \u00a0He was drawn to the message, and a week later went back to hear more. \u00a0After a third visit, he professed faith in Jesus Christ, and the first Wolaitta believer was born.<\/p>\n
In the years that followed, many more professed faith in Jesus, and the missionaries were baptizing new converts regularly. \u00a0The Lewises lost a baby son three days after birth, and many Wolaittans came to mourn with them. \u00a0In the wake of this tragedy, many locals became Christians after observing the peace that the mission team exhibited in the face of such tragedy.<\/p>\n
By 1936, there were 73 believers in Soddo. \u00a0The mission had expanded to neighboring villages as well like Koisha, Yirga Alem, and Arba Minch. \u00a0It was estimated that in all of this southern region, they had seen close to 150 conversions. \u00a0But the tide of war was sweeping into Ethiopia. \u00a0The Italians had invaded, and the missionaries were going to be forced to leave. \u00a0Many of them left with a sadness. \u00a0Despite what they had seen, they feared it wasn’t enough to birth a new church yet.<\/p>\n
But God had plans for the Soddo church…<\/p>\n
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