PROTESTANT MISSION IN THE TOWN OF HAGERESELAM: A STUDY OF THEACTIVITIES OF THE MISSIONS AND LOCAL CONVERTS

Abstract The study is about the Protestant Mission in Hagereselam Town: A study of the activities of the Missionaries and local converts.It attempts to document the coming of branches of Christianity and their methods of expansionand the conversion of the people. Special emphasis is given to examine the impacts of the activities of the Protestant missionary on the cultural, social, economic and political aspects of the people of Hagereselam. The research employed qualitative paradigm; primary data were collected byformal and informal interviews, observations, document analysis, and theuse of oral tradition andsecondary sources.The study reveals that Protestant Christianity introduced to the town of Hagereselam in the mid of the twentieth century. Protestantism expanded in the area by convincing method of donations and often by impressive pressures made particularly through attacking the traditional religion with its rituals. The then general contextual background: political oppression, low economic status and lack of infrastructures, contributed to the peoples’activeconversiontoProtestantism.Themassconversionofthepeopleresulted in creating new spiritual orientations, which brought holistic change, including the missing of indigenous cultural and religious practices. These activities of the Missionaries faced strong challenges from the local rulers and other religious leaders of the town.Lastly, basedon its theological interpretation of Holistic Mission, Protestant missions are engaged in spiritual and developmental (social service) activities to enhance changes among the people. As a result of these activities (Evangelical and Developmental work), the local people began to avoid their extravagant traditional way of life. This has contributed for socio- economic development dynamism.