There are moments when faith means boldly stepping onto the water, just as Peter did in Matthew 14. Ethiopia’s Christ-centered schools have spent years taking courageous steps like this — moving forward by faith, eyes fixed on Christ.
The Background
History tells the story. When the Derg military junta seized power in the 1970s, the schools that once echoed with prayer fell abruptly silent as all forms of religion were banned from the classroom, and lessons were replaced by a single, state-written curriculum. Faith wasn’t discussed, and the first words on the blackboard, “In the beginning,” disappeared.
Yet hope survived. When laws shifted in the 1990s, Christ-centered schools returned cautiously, then with growing courage. Under a new administration, a subtle but meaningful shift has opened doors for renewed confidence in Christ-centered education. Zekerias Nigatu, Edify’s Country Director in Ethiopia, describes this moment in time, “While the country’s law [banning religious education] still exists, there is now more flexibility for our work. Over the past ten years, Edify has been dedicated to Ethiopian schools… and now these schools are gaining the confidence to implement true Christ-centered education. This shift in perspective has sparked newfound boldness.”
Inspired Change
That boldness is now visible. Teachers, leaders, and principals are embracing new skills and mindsets, each one taking daring steps forward. The story of Yishak Alemu, teacher at Future Hope, is just one example. Inspired by Edify trainings he attended beginning in 2022, he wanted his students to grow not only in knowledge but also in faith and compassion. So he brought a new idea to life: on top of a wooden desk, he placed a simple box. He called it the Blessing Box.
Every week, students contributed what they could: some dropped in coins, others a small folded bill. At the end of the school year, the class opened the Blessing Box together. What they found inside was used to support classmates who couldn’t afford school expenses. The Blessing Box may be small, but it holds something greater than textbooks ever could — the lesson that when we share our blessings, we multiply them. In this way, faith becomes more than an idea; it becomes a daily practice, a step onto the water.
Across Ethiopia, teachers and students continue to step forward with hope, despite the storms, carrying the love of Christ into their families and communities. It’s a teacher leading each lesson with Scripture, it’s a community impacted by Christ, and it’s a child sounding out the words, “In the beginning,” on a bright morning, with an entire future unfolding before them.
