Argaw and Rachel Ayele met at Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe (Hungary) in 2005. Argaw was born and raised in the southern Ethiopia. Rachel was born and raised in Indiana. After a short time, they made plans to be married and to move to Ethiopia as missionaries. Both had the desire to share Jesus’ love by helping those in need–especially children. In 2006, they began the multi-year process of becoming licensed as a local non government organization (NGO) under the name Ebenezer Supporting and Development Association (ESDA). In 2014, Ebenezer Shepherding Ministries of Africa, Inc. (ESMA/ESMAfrica) was approved to operate as a US 501c3 non-profit organization.

They chose to include the Biblical name “Ebenezer”, which means “stone of help” and as 1 Samuel 7:12 says “God has helped us”.

• In January 2010, Ebenezer Grace Children’s Home (EGCH) was founded. Eventually, as their own family grew to seven, the Ayeles moved off-site in order to accommodate the needs presented by the growing number of orphans being brought into the children’s home. Since 2013, 28 children have been adopted locally, or have been reintegrated into their families.

• In October 2015 Lantu’s Home of Hidden Treasures (Lantu’s Home) opened its doors to reach those that are in dire need of specialized care. The children range from abandoned newborns (during arrival) to those with moderate to severe special needs.

• In April 2017, a children’s home that we had partnered with over the past years became part of the Ebenezer family. House of Hope is a home for older boys, many of which who are HIV positive.

Our children have come from various tribes and backgrounds. Some have come with their mother(s), some their family was unable to care for them, some their parents have died, some abandoned, and even some were considered “cursed”. Regardless of how they came to one of the Ebenezer homes, we know that God has a special purpose and plan for each of their lives.