Welcoming Tensae Church to Christ Our Savior’s fellowship is Dr. Dennis Aubey, former pastor of Christ Our Savior in Winfield (left), with Tensae’s Elder (far right), Henok Mussie, and his family, wife Rebecca, and sons Kahen and Betselot. Christ Our Savior’s Board of Discipleship Chair, Deb Odefey, represented the Church Council that helped communicate the proposed partnership to congregation members.
CHRIST OUR SAVIOR PARTNERS WITH ETHIOPIAN AND ERITREAN CONGREGATION
There comes a time when taking a leap of faith will reveal God’s leading and blessings in unplanned ways. Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Winfield, found out firsthand that opening their hearts and doors to another Christian congregation, consisting primarily of Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees, has brought the love and gospel of Christ to a new level of fellowship with an ethnic family of brothers and sisters in Christ.
Dr. Dennis Aubey, past pastor of Christ Our Savior, Winfield, was contacted by Pastor Brian Davies of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church, Grayslake, to see if his church would consider opening their church to an Ethiopian and Eritrean Christian Church looking for a new church home in the west suburban area. Pastor Davies was a friend and mentor to Tensae’s Elder, Mr. Henok Mussie. The interdenominational Christian church of approximately 50 adult members worshipped in their native Ethiopian language. After much prayerful discussion with Christ Our Savior’s leadership and congregation, they decided to join in fellowship with Tensae Church. Tensae’s first worship service and Bible Study were held in November 2018, utilizing times when the sanctuary was not in use by Christ Our Savior.
Since then, both congregations have been blessed by the hope of cooperative initiatives that will enable Christ Our Savior to partner together with resources and programs in the future, including children’s ministry, volunteer literacy education, discipleship and outreach.
Dr. Dennis Aubey, (former) pastor of Christ Our Savior, said “Tensae Church is a group of evangelical believers who have close ties to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Ethiopia. Working with an ethnic congregation is a unique opportunity for Christian outreach. While Tensae Church will remain an independent church, we envision many opportunities as our relationship grows together. “
He continued, “Opening our doors to a diverse Bible-believing culture is important to our church, not just mission organizations, because it provides an opportunity for the church to grow and help spread God’s good news to people beyond our membership. This will also help us to learn to be more sensitive to Lutherans who come from other cultures who may wish to join Christ Our Savior.”
Christ Our Savior looks forward to seeing its relationship with Tensae Church grow in the coming months with blessings for both congregations.
There comes a time when taking a leap of faith will reveal God’s leading and blessings in unplanned ways. Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Winfield, found out firsthand that opening their hearts and doors to another Christian congregation, consisting primarily of Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees, has brought the love and gospel of Christ to a new level of fellowship with an ethnic family of brothers and sisters in Christ.
Dr. Dennis Aubey, past pastor of Christ Our Savior, Winfield, was contacted by Pastor Brian Davies of Lord of Glory Lutheran Church, Grayslake, to see if his church would consider opening their church to an Ethiopian and Eritrean Christian Church looking for a new church home in the west suburban area. Pastor Davies was a friend and mentor to Tensae’s Elder, Mr. Henok Mussie. The interdenominational Christian church of approximately 50 adult members worshipped in their native Ethiopian language. After much prayerful discussion with Christ Our Savior’s leadership and congregation, they decided to join in fellowship with Tensae Church. Tensae’s first worship service and Bible Study were held in November 2018, utilizing times when the sanctuary was not in use by Christ Our Savior.
Since then, both congregations have been blessed by the hope of cooperative initiatives that will enable Christ Our Savior to partner together with resources and programs in the future, including children’s ministry, volunteer literacy education, discipleship and outreach.
Dr. Dennis Aubey, (former) pastor of Christ Our Savior, said “Tensae Church is a group of evangelical believers who have close ties to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Ethiopia. Working with an ethnic congregation is a unique opportunity for Christian outreach. While Tensae Church will remain an independent church, we envision many opportunities as our relationship grows together. “
He continued, “Opening our doors to a diverse Bible-believing culture is important to our church, not just mission organizations, because it provides an opportunity for the church to grow and help spread God’s good news to people beyond our membership. This will also help us to learn to be more sensitive to Lutherans who come from other cultures who may wish to join Christ Our Savior.”
Christ Our Savior looks forward to seeing its relationship with Tensae Church grow in the coming months with blessings for both congregations.