Winter 2025 COLIM Mission Highlights

Central Ohio Lutheran Immigrant Mission

Our Purpose: To financially and spiritually support the furthering of the message of the Gospel to diversified people in Central Ohio.

Winter ‘25-‘26 - Ministry Highlights

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

Somali Outreach

During the winter season of Christmas and Epiphany, Jesus’ light shines brightly on the unreached Somali Muslims in Columbus. By the grace of God, and in partnership with COLIM (Central Ohio Lutheran Immigrant Mission), we continue to reach new Somali Muslims and make them disciples of Jesus. This winter, we have been engaging 26 Somali Muslims with the saving love of Jesus by building relationships, giving them Christian service, and dialoguing about life, faith, and Jesus. All have heard the Gospel: the forgiveness of sins ONLY JESUS can give by His shed blood on the cross, and the life everlasting He secures by His resurrection from the dead. However, just as in Acts 17:32-34, some hearers resist. Some were still open-minded to learn more about the Gospel message. The Holy Spirit is at work: out of the 26, two Somali Muslims were willing to follow Jesus as their Savior. Thanks be to God!!!

An Encounter with an Imam

One of our Somali Christian brothers, Abdi, encountered a local imam (i.e., a leader of a mosque), and this imam confronted brother Abdi for not showing up for daily (mosque) prayer. The imam quizzed Abdi, Why don’t you pray? Abdi replied, I pray to God every day in the name of Jesus, who grants me sure access to God and eternal life. Abdi next asked the imam, Imam, sir, you are a sheik, and you lead your people in prayer, but do you know for real if you have true access to God? Do you know if you have eternal life? The imam said, No, I don’t. Only Allah knows. Brother Abdi then referred him to 1 Pet. 1:18-19 (above) telling the imam, Only Jesus guarantees forgiveness of sins and then heaven. Abdi has planted the seeds of the Gospel. We are praying and pursuing the watering of those Gospel seeds, trusting God to bring salvation to this imam.

For the sake of Christ’s mission,

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

Gratitude and Prayer Requests

This Lent season overlaps with Somali Muslims’ month of Ramadan (fasting). Muslims fast in an attempt to purify their souls and perhaps earn reward in the afterlife. Please pray for the wisdom and courage for our COLIM outreach as we seize this moment to tell Muslims the Truth that only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from our sins.

Please pray that the Gospel we proclaim among Muslims will take root and bear fruit.

Please pray for the safety of Somali Christians as they continue to experience rejection and hatred from their Muslim community.

Several Somali Christians are praying to start small businesses where they can work together to sustainably lead their lives as tent-making missionaries, most of all, to use these businesses as a platform to attract Muslim Somalis and share the Gospel with them. Please pray for God’s provision of finances.

It is a heavenly joy for us to share the Good News of Jesus with the least evangelized people groups here in Central Ohio (Luke 15:7; Isa. 52:7; 1 Tim. 2:4). This cannot happen without you. Would you please continue supporting COLIM in reaching Somali Muslims and other immigrant nations here in Columbus? Please help us fulfill this God-pleasing mission and increase the Kingdom’s impact in 2025.