Historical Background

Dr. Thomas Lambie

The history of this school is none other than the fulfillment of the grand plan of on great missionary. This man was Doctor Thomas Lambie. Dr. Lambie and his team of medical associates had been working around Nassir in the Sudan, rendering emergency medical services to the people there at the time. The evidences at and show that Dr. Lambie and his team medical professions were praying to God intently to allow them to preach the Gospel across the boarder in the adjoining Sayo area in Dembi Dollo (West Wollega).

At bout this time in 1918 an epidemic called ‘Spanish flu’ was affecting the area. The central government’s expeditionary force led by Ras Birru W/Gebriel that made for, West Wolega to subdue Dejache Jotte of the area was hit by the said pestilence. Ras Birru requested help from the Presbyterian medical mission stationed in Malacan, in South Sudan. The team then came over to Sayo, Dembi Dollo to give their services to Ras Birru’s army. They came through the difficult route Via Gambella and after days on the road arrived at Dembi Dollo.

Dr Lambie’s medical team who was warmly received by the people of Sayo. The team after its successfully medical intervention was in exchange given food, clothes and other important things and asked by both the people and its governors to stay in Sayo.  Dr. Lambie was willing to stay if he was allowed to preach the Gospel in the area. His request was duly granted but that he needed to secure permission from his missionary station back in the Sudan and get approval from the American Foreign Missions Board and his applications was approved of. He had a good time of it and Sayo and his relationship with the people was so close that in 1922 Dr. Paul E. Gilmer, Mr. Dunkar C. Hinner and Ms. Elizabeth came to join the first group. The first of these people was to help in medical service, the second to spread the World while the third person was to help with teaching.

The first girl’s school was then opened in Sayo due to the pressing needs that in the subsequent years that unless Christian women are found for those young coverts of the early missionaries, their Christian life, would be threatened and the whole missionary effort would be endangered. Hence it was a must that Christian girls be groomed for the purpose. As a result, with a ‘special gift’ of money generously extended for this purpose the first girls’ school was established. The school carried on its services until the time of the Italian Invasion.

On the other hand, while still stationed at Sayo and coordinating the activities there Dr. Lambie made a journey of 400 miles due south on a mule to Gore. There he established a second missionary station.  Next, making his way to Addis Ababa he had an honorable reception by Ras Teferri Mekonnen, crown prince to the royal crown of Ethiopia. At the time he was handed a large tract of land in the outskirt of the city at Gullele – the present site of Ethiopian Food and Nutrition Research Institute. The twelve acres he was given was for building on a hospital to begin his medical services, thereby the third Presbyterian mission station was opened.

Dr. Lambie, soon after this, went to American and made his case with general Assemble that he did not have money to build the hospital in Addis. So through the soliciting thus made a donation was secured from Mr. W. S. George. Then the hospital was build and in 1923 gained the reputation for treating the rich and the poor alike in the same way that its fame spread for and wide Gospel preaching was an extension of the medical service in those days.

Both American and Ethiopian missionaries used to preach the World for patients who came to the hospital. Spiritual treatment to the soul was given hand in hand with the physical one done by the missionary. Questions were being raised, at about this time, concerning girl’s education and Ms Florence Davidson presented her self for the task. After support for the scheme got support the Etege Mennon, the king’s consort, and the official palace circles, the school went operational in 1924. Students flocked to the new boarding school and evidence shown that boys too attended the same school. Ms. Henett and Ms. Biliar indicated this in their book. “The River of Life in Ethiopia”.

A teacher named Ms. Walker who had great appeal and popularity among the female students taught them every morning while the boys were given lesson every afternoon by Dr, Valdes. This initial attempt was strengthened further when loving and capable teachers among the missionaries joined the effort. Teachers adhered to the country’s curriculum from the outset and taught other supplementary subjects and that it was considered an honor to have enrolled in that school.

Students from this early school were, from time to time, sent to the American Mission College in Beirut, Lebanon. On their return from Beirut many of those set there assumed responsible positions in the civil service.

The hospital and the school continued rendering their services while the task of spreading the World on Sundays was moved on to a place where the Bethel Church is now found and carried on spreading the Gospel until 1936, by which time the missionaries left the place but the school went on through a difficult chapter of its history and struggled with, a time, as few as only three students – resisting to quit its activities.  Following the end of the Italian occupation the school moved to its present site and continued to manage its educational activities to this day. Its services were first limited to grade four(1-4) until it upgraded itself to grade eight and eventually made itself a senior high school, including the pre-elementary (KG) level.

The school has gone through structural changes as well as changes in its names. Its first name was Annie Campbell George Memorial Girls’ School. It was named after the wife of a generous benefactor who substantially contributed to the construction of the hospital. Gradually, as this was an institution  were American worked, the community around the school as well as the Ministry of Education’s record on national exams identified it as “American Mission Girls’ School”. By and by, as American person began to leave their positions to their Ethiopian counterparts, the name changed to one that represented the alteration of the setting . The name “Yehiwot Birhan”, which literally means the “Light of Life” hence, came in to being.

The name, however, didn’t stick for long as a new church by that name emerged in Addis Ababa, which necessitated the name change. So, the Bethel Synods and EECMY, which are the owners of the school decided, in consideration of the school’s background as well as its ownership status, to adopt Bethel Mekane Yesus School as the most suitable one for this institution.

It was necessary to take over the educational management of the school from foreign missionaries as Ethiopians grew to maturity to assume the positions and positions and hence it was relevant to effect the name changes to represent this.

Missionaries activities generally viewed represent expansion of the light of the Gospel alongside the spread of modern education. We recognize the dedication they showed, the hardships they went through with the sacrifices they paid thereof. Their activities inspired people for modern ways of living. The role they played in ensuring educational access to girls is a significant contribution to which we keep paying tributes.

In general, the establishment of the Bethel Mekane Yesus School had its roots from the visions of early missionaries, who believed in. “The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psa. 1-7) This was, then, the early start that in the course of time has brought its service ever closer to its centenary.

Credit to all this goes to the Almighty God for the protection of the school in his fold. The vanguard old missionaries who started all this were all visionary, some of whom went to places where their calling take them to execute their charge. The ordeal they went through and the sufferings they endured bore the holy marks of love and compassion to humanity akin to those of Jesus Christ. They deserve, all the more, our love and praise for this. We pay tribute to the works of those leading missionaries like Dr. Thomas Lambie and his wife. Dr. John Maclore a man who lost his life to the missionary service near the Ethio-Somaliland boarder, Mr. Duncan Henry and many other missionary teachers and medical professionals who experienced atrocities and got afflicted with illness in the course of their mission.

Deserving special tribute here are leading missionary fathers and mothers the likes of Rev. Mamo Chorka, Rev. Giddada Solan, Rev. Kumssa Borru, Rev. Terffa Tibba, Ato Gutama Ruffo and Wro. Elzabeth Kerrorsa.

Others who contributed to the school in their varied capacity as committee chairpersons and members, both the church and immediate community, deserve acclamation for their effort and we immensely praise God for this.

The contribution made by the missionaries, the School Board, Ministry of Education’s organs at various tiers, teachers, other workers of the school and the international community schools enabled the school to execute its services better. The experience shared from similar institutions helped the school keep improving its services to the coming supply students for higher academic institutions.

The school, now under the supervision of the Addis Ketema Sub City Education office and Woreda 5 Education office, worked in close liasion with them. The school is recognized and duly accredited by the Addis Ababa Education Bureau. Hence, it is abided by the regular curriculum prescribed by the Ministry of Education in line with the country’s Education and Training Policy.

At present the school give services from pre school (KG) - Grade 12 with total students of 1300 and 108 teachers and supporting staffs.

The school teaches only girls starting from its origin. We are getting ready to celebrate its 100 years anniversary after 4 years, by 2024 with all its friends from out and in the country mainly with its old students almnae.