Support Melake Selam Kessies Araya and Our Church

Help Restore Debre Sahel Be’aata Le Mariam Church and Support Our Priest

My name is Melake Selam Kesis ArayaSelassie, and I’ve had the honor of serving as Head Priest of Debre Sahel Be’aata Le Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in the Bronx since 2022. Recently, I fell victim to a devastating scam that has endangered not only my role but the future of our church. I am asking for your support to help recover the funds lost and protect our church community during this critical time.

Debre Sahel Be’aata Le Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church was established in 2002 to serve the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church community in the Bronx New York. Under the guidance of the late Archbishop Abuna Yesehaq, the church became a beacon of spiritual strength. I stepped in as Head Priest in 2022, committed to continuing his legacy and fostering a thriving spiritual community. Since then, I’ve worked hard to manage church affairs, implement reforms, and ensure the church’s stability.

On September 12, 2024, I received an urgent call claiming that the church’s bank account had been hacked. Over the next 24 hours, the scam escalated, and in my panic and lack of support, I ended up transferring $40,000 of the church’s money to what I believed was a legitimate request to resolve the situation. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a scam. This financial loss has placed the church in a precarious position.

As a result of this incident, tensions have escalated within the church, and I’ve been stripped of access to the church’s premises, even while my personal belongings remain inside. The incident has caused deep divisions and confusion within the congregation.

I am humbly asking for your support to help me restore the $40,000 lost to the scam. These funds are essential for the church’s operations, and without them, the future of our beloved community is at risk. Additionally, the funds will be related to clearing my name and securing the church’s future.

Despite my best efforts, the church is struggling to recover from this financial hit, and I need the support of our broader community to move forward. This has been a devastating experience, both emotionally and spiritually. With your help, we can rebuild, restore peace, and ensure that the church continues to serve as a place of worship and sanctuary for all who need it.

I deeply regret my role in this unfortunate situation, but I am committed to making things right. Your generosity will help me prove my innocence, repay the church, and restore peace to our congregation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers, support, and any contribution you can make to help our community heal. May God bless you all.