COMPOSED BY

THE REV. GEMECHIS D. BUBA

PRESIDENT OF

THE UNITED OROMO EVANGELICAL CHURCHES INC.
 

Atlanta Ga.

Sent from

Metroplex

Dallas, Texas

Grace and much peace be with you all,

On Sunday afternoon February 26, 2006 I flew to the sunny city of Dallas Texas. It was interesting to preach in Atlanta and Dallas on the same day in two languages.

My trip to Dallas was with a mission to encourage and consult with the Oromo church in Dallas. This church was born almost three years ago when Oromo Christians decided to come together and start a Bible study. That Bible study group grew and became a fellowship of believers.

After being born in this huge city, the church has been struggling with lack of pastoral leadership. As a result they have been through many ups and downs. At one time they had a short term Oromo minister from Dallas Theological Seminary, unfortunately it was very short lived.

Dallas is one the fastest growing cities in the United States with so many Political players including President George W. Bush emerging from it. As I was told the Ethiopian population in Dallas area numbers more that 30,000. There are so many very large Ethiopian Orthodox Churches and more than two very large Ethiopian Evangelical Churches. In the entire Metroplex, there is a large number of Oromo residents not well organized in any form or shape. Even the Oromo church worships with less than 10 regular attendants.

After preaching in the Oromo church on Sunday evening, I spent as much time as possible with some key leaders asking them to tell me their stories and challenges. They were open, frank, honest and at times in tears. It was such a touching trip for me!!

After hearing their stories I started making quick connection with partner churches, mission directors and the Bishop of the Northern Texas and Louisiana Synod, Bishop Kevin Kenouse. Their swift reaction and willingness to help our community was astounding. Mission Director Stephen Kenause and Assistant to the Bishop, Rev. Nancy Fisher spent significant portion of their Monday afternoon with me exploring the options and possibilities of swiftly embracing the Oromo community and sharing church facility and provide leadership support with a long term goal of training and ordaining an Oromo leader for the Metroplex Dallas Oromo church and community at large. They were firm and the process is now started. The Synod is on board, we are working with the Chicago office to be involved and Rev. Stephen Kenause is leading the whole effort. I will be assisting in providing Oromo specific information.

February 27, night the area mission director Rev. Stephen Kenause met with the leaders of our church, Teshome Wayessa, Shelama Ruby and Taddessa Boshera in the lobby of Westin Hotel in North Dallas. It was a great meeting of vision, mission and purpose. I sat back and watched our leaders interact with Pastor Kenause. Their vision for the Oromo people in Dallas and in Oromia made me proud. They communicated effectively! Their story touched him deeply that he committed himself 100% to diligently work for their success.

The next step is housing this Oromo mission in a convenient location for the Oromo community in Dallas. Then identifying, licensing and supporting a pastoral leader for the mission. However the long term goal is to educate and ordain the leader as a mission developer of the Oromo church in Dallas.

Once this is put in place, with the help of the core group that is already gathered this community will gear up to reach out and touch Oromo residents in the Metroplex Dallas area. May God grant us success!!!

At this juncture I would like to call upon all Oromo churches to pray and support the Oromo mission in Dallas Texas. The possibility is exciting; God is opening amazing doors of opportunity. Our task is to march in and make use of it!

Peace and many blessings,

The Rev. Gemechis D. Buba

President,

The United Oromo Evangelical Churches Inc.