Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)
The Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church began meeting in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada in September 2010. The group soon sought a relationship with a Canadian Protestant denomination. Since many in the congregation had been part of the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia, they chose to relate to Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. It became a formal member of the conference in April 2013.
The worship service in 2013 met Sunday afternoons in a local Baptist church, and would be characterized as charismatic or "contemporary" with a worship band. The lengthy time of singing, punctuated by times of prayer, included ululation from the group's Ethiopian heritage. Mesfin Woldearegay, the full time pastor, has served in pastoral leadership for 15 of his 21 years in Canada. In 2013 the worship service was in Amharic, though Sunday school for children and youth was provided in English.
The congregation also sponsored a weekly radio program in Amharic.
The Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church ended its relationships with Mennonite Church Eastern Canada and Mennonite Church Canada in 2023.
Bibliography
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. Annual Church Gathering Workbook (2013): 27.
Rogalsky, Dave. "Charismatic worship, Mennonite connections." Canadian Mennonite 17, no. 20 (14 October 2013): 25.
Additional Information
Address: Meeting at Central Baptist Church, 358 Ottawa St. S., Kitchener, Ontario N2M 3S5
Phone: 519-603-1711
Denominational Affiliations:
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (Until 2023)
Mennonite Church Canada (Until 2023)
Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church Pastoral Leaders
Name | Years of Service |
---|---|
Mesfin Woldearegay | 2010- |
Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church Membership
Year | Members |
---|---|
2013 | 60 |
2020 | 90 |
Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
---|---|
Date Published | April 2024 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. April 2024. Web. 23 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bethel_Ethiopian_Evangelical_Church_(Kitchener,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=178714.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (April 2024). Bethel Ethiopian Evangelical Church (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 23 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bethel_Ethiopian_Evangelical_Church_(Kitchener,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=178714.
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