April 2023 Mission Highlights

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

Eastertide! As we celebrate the victory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ over sin, Satan, and death, we are also blessed to engage others, Somali Muslims with Jesus. The Lord is drawing some of these people to Himself through the Gospel we proclaim.

Sacdiya Ibrahim is one of the Somalis who joined our Somali fellowship this Easter season. Here is a brief story. The Friday after Easter Sunday at 11:00 am, we were supposed to have our regular Somali Catechism class and fellowship at Church. But that day the Lord had another (bigger) plan. Barak, a Somali Christian friend called just 40 minutes before our fellowship was to begin and asked if we could meet on the north side of Columbus instead. As a result, five of us met him there in an apartment occupied by a Somali Muslim resident. This Somali man knew that we were Christians and allowed us to pray there in Jesus’ name. While we were studying and reflecting on Romans 6:23, a young Somali lady (Sacdiya Ibrahim) walked in unexpectedly and sat with us. The Lord has indeed a plan, a plan for Sacdiya to hear about the bad news that the wages of sin is death, and the good news that the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thanks be to God! Sacdiya has been captivated by the Good News of Jesus she heard, and she has been joining our Somali Christian fellowship ever since. Sacdiya heard about sin as we looked at the Ten Commandments together. She honestly confessed she failed to keep the Ten Commandments and that the 8th Commandment is especially difficult to keep. She realized that it is just unattainable to fully keep God’s Law. Sacdiya was awestruck to hear that forgiveness of sins and eternal life are gifts of God because of Christ’s death on the cross for us. We cannot be saved not by what we do, but we are saved by God’s grace, Nimco (pronounced Nim’o). The Somali Christians had heard and believed God’s Law and Gospel and confessed faith in Christ! Sacdiya also gets it now and she is rejoicing in the Good News. Each week she joins us with her face smiling. To God be the glory!

Also, Muhammad Gulled is letting us meet in his apartment. He is still Muslim, but it seems he is open to learning more about Jesus. This past week, he called me and said I am welcome to visit him at his apartment more often. God’s blessings abound! God’s kingdom is coming to an unanticipated place, and the Saving name of Jesus is being invoked very close to a Mosque.

In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Berhanu Arsse
Pastor – Ebenezer Church & Missionary (COLIM)

What Can You Pray For?

Please pray that the Holy Spirit would help Mohammad Gulled understand the Gospel and lead him to Jesus, the Savior.

Please pray that our new Somali convert ladies: Anesa and Sacdiya grow in faith, trusting Christ.

Please pray for Somali Christians in need of safe places to stay/live, fellowship, and worship.

Please support the work of Somali mission outreach with your financial donations. You may send your gifts and donations to COLIM (Central Ohio Lutheran Immigrant Outreach)