Reach to Ethiopian immigrants
by the Rev. Anteneh Gebreselassie
A new worship service in the Amharic language is starting in Arlington, Virginia. Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church is pleased to announce that Sunday, September 13, 2015 will be the official date of launching this new worship opportunity.
Worship at ትንሳኤ የወንጌል አገልግሎት is announced.
Although there are many languages in Ethiopia, Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia. In the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area it is estimated that there are about 100,000 Ethiopian immigrants.* The goal of this new Amharic ministry is to reach to some of these Ethiopian immigrants.
For more than a year, the leaders and members of Resurrection, together with the Metro D.C. Synod, have been praying on and discerning the possibility of starting this new ministry for Ethiopian immigrants. Thanks be to God, by God’s grace we have made all the preparation to launch this new ministry.
For all outreach purpose, the ministry is named “Resurrection Gospel Ministry (ትንሳኤ የወንጌል አገልግሎት);” otherwise it is Amharic language worship service within the congregation.
As we are so excited about the new ministry, we also ask for your prayers for its success. All are invited to this special day, Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 9:30 am. The launch service is combined and will be both in Amharic and in English.
* See for example “African immigrant population doubling each decade; D.C. area among group’s top destinations” by Pamela Constable (Washington Post, 10/1/14).
Our guest blogger, Pr. Gebreselassie, is Associate Pastor at Resurrection and African National Ministries Coordinator for the synod.