Abstract:
The focus of this thesis is exploring the history of Christianity in Bale from ca1890 to 1991.The
study covers the period from the rule of Emperor Menelik II to the coming to power of the
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) government. The study is important
to shed light on the history of Christianity in Bale. Especially, it assesses how different Christian
faiths and churches spread in Bale and the role played by the EOTC, the EECMY, the Gala Hiwot,
the Full Gospel and the Mäsärätä Kerestos Church in the socio- economic development of the
people of Bale province. The study was conducted making use of the data collected from both
primary and secondary sources. To mention, archival sources, thesis, PhD dissertations, journals,
proceedings, magazines, books and periodical publications were used. In addition to this, fifty-five
oral informants were also interviewed. The collected data were evaluated by checking and counter
checking with other sources. Finally, analysis and discussions were made using the qualitative
method of research. In Bale Province, the work of evangelization of the Christian faith was very
weak. The propagation of Orthodox Tewahedo faith to some extent strengthened in line with the
spread of the Protestant faith. Until 1991, the interaction between the Orthodox Tewahedo Church
and the different sects of Protestant churches as well as the Catholic Church was not good. The
believers of the Protestant faith and the followers of the Catholic Church were perceived as
heretics by the believers of the Orthodox Tewahedo faith and segregate in the different social life of
the society. However, that ugly relationship improved and relaxed in line with the freedom of
worship the people of the country enjoyed following government change in1991.The harmonious
relationship and tolerance existed for centuries between Christians and Muslims of Bale also
continued as before until these days. Before 1960s the role played by the different churches found
in Bale in development work that benefit the people of the area was not satisfactory. However, from
1970 onwards the Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the different sects of Protestant Churches and the
Catholic Church engaged themselves in rendering holistic services for the people of the area such
as by opening schools, clinics, helping deep poor people and carrying out other development
works.
