MADDA WALABU UNIVERISTY

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

A HISTORY OF ROBE KALE HIWOT CHURCH SINCE 1982 UP TO PRESENT

ARESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITED TO HISTORY AND HERITAGE

MANAGEMENT OF MADDA WALABU UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE DEGREE OF BACHLOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY
AND HERITAGE MANAGMENT

BY: MARSA HURESA

BALE ROBE ETHIOPIA, ETHIOPIA

MAY 2022

Contents

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INTRODUCTION 3
1.2 Statement of the problem 3
1.3 Objective of the study 4
1.3.1 Specific objectives of the study 4
1.4 Delimitation of the study 4
1.5 Significance of the Study 4
1.5.1.1 Contribution of the church to the local communities 4
1.4.1.2 Educational Contribution of the Church 5
1.5.2 The positive impact of Students and Teachers in Robe KHC 6
1.5.3 Child Development Project for Robe KHC 6
1.5.4.Economic Source of the Church 7
1.5.5. The Role of the Church as Social Organization 8
1.6 Limitation Of The Study 8
1.7 Methodology 9
2. Source Of Data 9
2.1 Primary Source 9
2.2 Secondary source 9
2.3 Data Gathering Instrument 9
2.4 Interview 9
2.5 Data Analysis 10
3. Work plan 10
3.2 Reference 11

INTRODUCTION
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1.1. Background of the Study

Protestantism began as a movement to reform the western Christian church in the 16 thcentury
from the Roman Catholic Church. Many people were criticizing the Roman Catholic Church.
Despite the considerable differences among them in doctrine and practice, they agreed in
rejecting the authority of the pope and in emphasizing instead the authority of the Bible and the
importance of individual faith. They said its leaders were corrupt and lazy. They complained that
its priests did notteach people the true message of Jesus Christ. In 1950 a Religious movement
called the reformation divided Western Christianity in a several bodies. The basic cause for the
reformation movement includes political, cultural, religions and economic reasons.

Actual reformation was stated by a Germany Monk Martin Luther (1483-1546). He was a leader
of this reformation shared these criticism. His Bible studies also led him to challenge key
catholic ideas. In particular, he believed that people could only be saved from sin by faith in God
and trust in God’s grace. He did not believe Catholic preachers, who offered to sell God ’s
forgiveness to raise money to build a Cathedral. In 1517, Luther nailed list of 95 complaints to a
Church door in wittenberg. Groups that left the Roman Catholic Church to form their own
churches were called Protestants. The four main protestant traditions that emerged from the
Reformation were the Lutheran, Calvinist, the Anabaptist and the Anglican.

1.2 Statement of the problem

In 1974 the marxis Derg government came to power with its initial mission of secularization as
the route to justice and equality. It banned both traditional religious practices and foreign
religion, including Protestantism. During the early year of the Derg, from 1974-1979, protestants
and Pentecostals were several persecuted. Many churches were closed, believers were beaten,
and many were imprisoned. Huge argument broke out in the community and the Pentecostals
were harassed and beaten.11The other was a shortage of finance to the preachers who left their
home and sent to preach the gospel to them peoples within the woreda and outside of the woreda
need money.14 The most and largest problem was the issue of peace and stability of the local
people. During conflict between different ethnic groups church members absent from church and
lack of trust each other and church leaders are busy to rest

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1.3 Objective of the study
The general of the study was a history of robe kale hiwot church since 1982 up to present

1.3.1 Specific objectives of the study

 To identify religion of bale robe town.
 To investigate change and continuities of bale in religion.
 To assess religious practice of the people of robe.
1. What was religious practice of the people of Bale robe?
2. What were the features of interaction between Muslim and , protestant in the Bale
town after the1981?

1.4 Delimitation of the study

The scope of the study will be assessing the history of the bale robe kale heywet church .

1.5 Significance of the Study

There had been a comprehensive historical study on economic, political, social, religious and
inter – ethnic relations of bale robe zone . Generally, this study was undertaken with astrong
belief that careful study and analysis of the history of this religious processes in the study area.
Therefore, it will hoped that this proposal will create on opportunity to know features of
interaction between Muslim and protestant in those town.

1.5.1THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE CHURCH

1.5.1.1 Contribution of the church to the local communities

Protestant churches participating in various development sectors since the early time of its
foundation. There a number of international and national protestant church organizations that is
highly involving in, the contribution for sustainable economic, political and religious arenas.
They are actively participating in the health service, education, environmental issues, water
supply and ensuring peace and security of local community. In additional to the above points,
they are doing well in different infrastructural networks like rural roads, power supplying and
giving short term training for health care expertise, education expertise and even for agricultural
officers. They are also supporting local church leaders in providing awareness in different

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leading styles. By the financial support from different international and national organization
they support local community at large. They are really playing decisive role in decreasing
unemployment rate in creating job opportunities for different local communities.

1.4.1.2 Educational Contribution of the Church

 .Kale Hiwot Church School

There are more than ten protestant churches in Robe town. These are Mekane Yesus, Mulu
Wongel, Hiwot Birihan, Meserete Kiristos, Assemble of God, Lutherian church, Yegziabher
church, Betel church, Immanuel church and Appostolic church. Among these four churches such
as Mekane Yesus, Mulu Wongel, Hiwot Birihan, and Kale Hiwot, is actively participation in
providing Education service for the local community. In Robe town 1978 Noriegnam protestant
church was the first protestant missionary in the area, conducted missionary activities and
expand medical, education and other welfare service. In recent past, Full Gospel church has been
to provide missionary practices welfare and educational services to the community.4

. These churches opened the schools from KG level to junior respectively. From its objective the
church school was opened for all community without considering the religion background

Year Student
Male Female Total Male Female Total
2005 185 161 346 10 4 14
2006 225 182 407 11 8 19
2007 230 210 440 10 9 19
2008 241 218 459 15 8 23
2009 306 275 581 13 11 24
2010 350 300 650 16 10 26
Table 1: Robe Kale Hiwot church School students and Teachers data from 2005 to 2010 E.C

Source = Robe Kale Hiwot Missionary school Report, 2018

In 2000 E.C there are about 1107 students and 25 teachers in church missionary school.
Additionally, the church playing big role in decreasing the problem of employment of the
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society. For instance, in 2000 E.C exceptionally there were many teachers who got job
opportunity in the missionary school. Further More, Robe Kale Hiwot Church are playing active
role in promoting arts, theaters, literature and dramas in Christian perspective. This helps
students to easily understanding for their experiences. A church by opening Robe KHC KG-8
School gives education and used local community.

1.5.2 The positive impact of Students and Teachers in Robe KHC

The Increasing number of students have many positive impacts. The major impact is on
employment, when students increase the ability of the schools to employ more teachers to teach
the students. The increasing students attract teaching and learning process.Increasing in the
number of students and other facility needed for the school includes like tables, class room,
books, chair, library and desk etc. The establishment of the school was linked with community.
Students have several responsibilities and duties in school. According to rule and regulation of
the school.6

1.5.3 Child Development Project for Robe KHC

The children development project is initiated with over all objectives to support the children poor
family. According this program poor children are collected one site and providing necessary
support. As it estimated this program cover 17% of the total vulnerable children of the Robe
town. The objective of this program is intends to support children who have lost their parents or
semi-parents and those who are poor economic back ground through provision of coordinated
education, health care, social economic and ethical development. The major activities of these
programs are

1. School support, provision of all materials, uniform.

2. Physical support- health care, health education, hygiene materials, HIV/AIDS patients
support and care, provision of regular clothes.
3. Social support- facilitates physical fitness games, soccer, indoor and outdoor games, and
historical visits.
4. Ethical support- counseling children to shape their behavior, to love their education,
community, family and country.
5. Administrational support- assist how to manage self, how to communicate with others,
and good ethics.7

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The target beneficiaries are 250 children (123 female and 127 male) and indirect beneficiaries
are 1500 of which 738 female. The project expects that all children will be success in their
school performance, vocational training, IGAD and self-managing and supporting. The project
protects the child abuse. It stands against child sexual abuse and gives awareness of sef-
protection. In the meantime targeted groups are verified as they are not benefited elsewhere. The
project can be managed by four permanent workers-project directory, accountant, social worker,
and Nurse.9

These project have mainly four major programs are the first, education/economic= ensures
school support for the those who attend in private schools in regular class, follow up academic
status of all children and will be taken proper action to their performance. Now day, around 250
children are attending elementary and high schools. Another activity of these project are the
school materials supply such as books, bags, uniforms, pen, pencils, rulers, sharpeners and
math’s instrument. They also provide counseling and guidance to children educational, morally,
psychological and so on.13

These above ideas refer to the church deep-rooted concern where spiritual and physical services
are seen together as integral parts for the wellbeing of the human being. According to KHC own
understanding, holistic ministry developed from the gospel of Jesus Christ where Jesus himself is
preaching the good news to the poor, healing, the sick and feeding the hungry. In this regard
KHC vision is based up on the bible and the holistic nature shown in the ministry of Jesus Christ.
Today the church is involved in various developments and social service project ranging from
engagement for peace, environmental protection, women empowerment, HIV and AIDS
awareness creation, improvement of food security and livelihood, support for community self-
help efforts and policy advocacy and networking.15 Generally, KHC head office responsible for
day activities of

1.5.4.Economic Source of the Church

The KHC has many source of income. The gifts from many sources for instance from the
believers especially on Sunday, on Wednesday and Friday the production of time and other
income of the church is tithe(asrat), one tenth from all believers of the church from the monthly
or annually income. Additional from the Robe Kale Hiwot Church generate income from
primary and secondary school student pay to learn in the school.17

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1.5.5. The Role of the Church as Social Organization
The church played a great role in the social as well as in culture lives of the society in several
ways. The means the church served as a center of integration for a diverse population groups
through the means of various self-help association, such as Iddir, Ikub and others different
association. The church also preached the communities specially the young to respect others and
live peacefully with others more over the church also carried out an awareness raising
orientations local community to help the poor and old peoples at holiday times. Robe KHC
established their own members of associations to help each other in their daily problems. They
also prohibited some, practices like polygamy smoking cigarette, planting tobacco, chat, alcohols
and contributed many things to the society as well as government like create Cohesion with
nation, tribe, clan to avoid harmful tradition and reduce bad conduct such as bandit, theft and
corruption. The church preaches to love each other and their country, to live by tolerance and to
work hard.

1.6 Limitation Of The Study

 The scope of the study was on “A history of Robe kale heywet church from 1982 up to
the present.
 Administrative, economic and social changes in the towns were deal in detail.
 These themes were investigated extensively and were the major subjects to discussed.
The following were some of the major challenges which the researcher faced during the study;
 The archival materials in Robe town was destroyed and the available one was
disorganized and hard to identify materials.
 Informants in Robe town were not comfortable to give information related to the tittle of
the study relating historical issue to the religion.

1.7 Methodology

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In order to achieve the basic objective of the study I will use qualitative method. According static
data collection, organization, validation and interpretation of the available primary and
secondary resource are under taken.

2. Source Of Data

The data was be required to achieve objective of the study are both primary and secondary data.

2.1 Primary Source

The primary resource was be obtained from archival material and oral source was be collected
from not clear, Specially from elders, pasturesand church followers through interview. Oral
source that was gathered is important to cross check against archival source.

2.2 Secondary source

This secondary source will be collected from the published and unpublished materials like;
journals, books, bibles and other unpublished materials from Phd obtained by internet as well as
social media. Thesis and other documentary materials was be utilized.

2.3 Data Gathering Instrument

2.4 Interview
Data will be collected by using unstructure interviewing with selected elders and religious
leaders or who are knowledgeable of religion and history of robe town as well as good followers
of robe kale heywet church. Interview was be collected the educational level among the
interviews there life style and ages. Data gathering instrument will be gathered first and for most
by conducting individual interview. The technique of interview will be under taken in order to
reach the objective. Key informant interview also expected to be conducted by the researcher at
robe town, in one kebeles with different community representative. Interview will be conducted
photographic and documentation was be done. The gathering of data was also be conducted on
secondary source such as; review of the books, journals and study thesis.

2.5 Data Analysis

During the data analysis the researcher will consider central issues such as reliability and
validity. Check was be done by making comparison with similar written source by way of

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identifying the major point of divergence similarity by comparing the different data obtain
through interviewing of different information. Oral data which are collecting through recorder.
As a result the research was use skill of analyzing qualitative data was include; collecting,
ordering and interpreting of the data.

3. Work plan

No Description Activities May June

2022 2022
1 Design and preparation of proposal 
2 Outline schedule for study 
3 Start data collection 
4 Analyze and interpretation 
5 Editing and writing final proposal 
6 Submission of proposal to department 
7 Presentation of proposal 

3.1 Budget Break Down

No Items Unit Quantity Cost

1 Paper - 11 22 birr
2 Pen Single 2 30 birr
3 Flash 16Gb 1 250 birr
4 Photocopy - - 40 birr
5 Printing - - 35 birr
6 Related cost 90 birr

7 Transport 105 birr

9 Total cost 572

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3.2 Reference

Mounir.1 Faraho and Adrea Berans Karls (1997)‘’World history, the human experience,’’USA
Chieago Ascotfezer Company (2001), ‘’Protestantism’’ World Book Encyclopedia Encyclopedia
(1994), Volume 13,USA

Fikadu Guermesa (1999),’’ye Wenigel Eminet be Ethiopia’’

Addis Ababa MYTSYEE Department (2007),’’ History of Christianity in Ethiopia Evangelical

Church MekaneYesus.’’

Tibebe Eshete 2009,the Evangelical Movement in Ethiopia Pesistance and Resilience, Waco:
Baylor University Press

Hamer, Jon, 2002. The Religious Conversion Process among the Sidama of North-East Africa.
Africa Journal of the International African Institute

Wondiye Ali, church out of tribulation, Addis Ababa literature department 1999.

Fikadu Gurmessa (YeWenigel Eminet Enikiskase Be Ethiopia) p198-200

 Tesfaye Belachewu, aHistory of Ethiopia Evangelical Church MekaneYesus. Hawassa

Congregation. p 1
 Soboke Negera and her group, Introduction and expansion of Protestantism to Hawassa
district, 2016, p 7
 Informants:wongelawi Abena Cheko, Ato Filmona Demeke
Informants: Ato Filmon Demeke, Ato Abiyot Tesfaye.

.Informants: Pasto rSayife Tadese, Ato Tadese Abe

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