March 5 Today in OPC History

On March 5, 1976, the Eritrea Mission of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church suspended its labors after thirty-two years of ministry. OPC missionaries and medical personnel at the Mihireta Yesus (Compassion of Jesus) Hospital in Ghinda at the time of the closing were the Rev. John S. Mason, Dr. Greet S. Rietkerk, and nurses Corrie Van Galen and Sandra Campbell. Increasing violence in the war between the Eritrean Liberation Front and the Ethiopian Army had resulted in the death of a faithful worker at the hospital and the sowing of land mines around Ghinda. Less than two years earlier in 1974, a desperate element of the Eritrean Liberation Front seized two of the missionary nurses, killing Anna Strikwerda and holding Debbie Dortzbach for almost a month before releasing her.

At the request of the mission, the Rev. John Galbraith, General Secretary of the Committee on Foreign Missions, flew to the capital city of Asmara to assist in the discussions with army authorities about what would be done with the hospital. One month later, the missionaries were granted exit visas and permitted to return to their home countries.

Sixteen years later, the OPC reopened the Eritrean Mission, resumed preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and restarted the ministry of mercy in Ghinda.

Picture: Corrie Van Galen and Greet Rietkerk