Missionary to America: Alex Mammo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifB2qWtSoiI

A story about what happens when there’s nowhere left to turn… except up.

There Was No Way Out

Sometimes it feels like there is no way out. Like Isaac tied to a sacrificial altar by Father Abraham, or Joseph sweating it out in Potiphar's prison, or three witnesses facing a fiery grave for not forsaking their faith. Alemayehu (Alex) Mammo was taken prisoner in a bloody civil war between Eritrea and Ethiopia. High barbed wire fences and soldiers with rifles fenced him in. It seemed like there was no way out. Alex’s life journey had brought him to a place that looked very much like a dead end.

Alex grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, but in the "suburbs."

In those days, the suburbs were past the edge of the city, cut out of a forest, with few modern comforts. He lived in a single-room house with his single mother and a brother. His mother lived in that house for over fifty years. The living room, the kitchen, and the bedroom were all part of that one room. But Alex was smart. He excelled in school and had plans for life as a professional, maybe in medicine - then the war began, Eritrean rebels fought to separate from Ethiopia. Family fights can be the most vicious.  

The seventeen-year-old joined the Eritrean Navy as a medical corpsman. Stationed at the port of Massawa, his base was set upon by rebel fighters. During the attack, two-thirds of the Ethiopian navy was destroyed, and thousands were taken prisoner.  Even when Eritrean victors shared their food with the prisoners, there was never enough for the prisoners to eat enough to keep the diseases at bay. Jaundice, malaria, and hepatitis held many hostage. Alex expected to die in the camp.

The Only Direction Left

Desperate, afraid, one day he walked into the middle of the prison compound and looked up and thought to himself, "As the psalmist (David) said, 'There is but an inch between me and death.' I understood what he said. There was no hope from north, or south or east or west. I understood one thing - there was only one opening from which nobody can stop you, to see up to heaven. So I started praying." When Alex looked up he saw freedom: he saw his salvation.

Alex prayed. When he opened his eyes, he saw others nearby who he knew were Christians. He went to them and talked to them about God. One of the prisoners could play the guitar; they left the courtyard to go inside to sing hymns. Singing and praising God, a sense of freedom overcame Alex, and he began to weep. He left to be alone, and fell apart, or was it together? At the end, after crying himself out, he swore to the Lord he would give his life to Him.

Look Up

When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Not my will but thy will be done," the disciples could not have imagined what would come next - an arrest, jail, condemnation at trial, then death? Those who fought Him (chief priests, elders, and scribes) said, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him."(Matthew 27)  When Jesus looked up from his cross, He said, "Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend myself."  And later, a grave opened. 

Whatever dead end you are facing, whatever fantasized final option, whatever prison, real, concrete, or self-made, even if there is but an inch between you and death, look up. 

More Stories Like This One

At Mission Nation Publishing, we inspire and equip churches to reach a different ethnic group in America with the gospel of Jesus. One of the ways that we do this is by publishing the stories of immigrants. If Alex's story inspired you, I would encourage you to check out our book collection and find more stories that show God's unfailing love through His people.

Check Out Our Books Today!

Interested in hearing Alex's full story? Check it out here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTHJZYNcnBQ

I want to invite YOU to check out our books, where you can learn more about what it means to engage with your community and better serve those around you. Click HERE to see our books. Specifically, I want to point you to Together in Mission. This resource is designed both

for congregations preparing to step into cross-cultural ministry and for those already engaged in it. It serves as an introduction to the vision of Revelation 7:9 and the work we carry out at Mission Nation, helping you move forward grounded in the Word and equipped for the work ahead.

Rev. Dr. Bob Scudieri

Founder of Mission Nation Publishing

Mission Nation Publishing is dedicated to inspiring and equipping churches across America to effectively engage with and minister to new ethnic groups by amplifying the powerful stories of immigrant missionaries and fostering diversity within Christian communities.

Thank you for journeying with me through this exploration of ministry tools. May your efforts bear fruit and your community flourish.