Oromo Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Minnesota

The Oromo Seventh-Day Adventist (OSDA) Church of Minnesota

The Oromo Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church of Minnesota became a reality as a result of several years of interaction among few concerned Oromo Adventist immigrants residing in the Twin Cities and its metropolitan areas since 1998. The primary objective for the formation of the Oromo SDA Church was to overcome language barrier experienced by most of the elderly church members when they attended the English-speaking local SDA churches. Initially, some of the first arrivers worshiped at the Glendale SDA church or First SDA Church of Minneapolis. These two groups finally decided to worship together at the basement of the First SDA Church of Minneapolis. As the number of the members increased, they officially organized themselves under the Minnesota Conference as a company on July 29, 2000. As attendance increased, church members decided to look for a larger place of worship. In 2001, the Lord led them to talk to the leaders of the Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran church located on 697 13th Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis, MN. The Lord impressed upon the hearts of the leaders of the Emanuel Lutheran church to let the group worship God in their church and gave them unlimited access to the building. Indeed, God Does Care! Jehova Jerah!

The Oromo Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Minnesota was granted its full church status at the Minnesota Constituency Session held on May 4, 2008. The church is governed by the Church Board, which is comprised of leaders from different departments of the church. Due to rapid growth in membership, the Minnesota Conference assigned a pastor to the church in November 2010. The church members are grateful to have a pastor since November 2010. Currently, the membership is over 200 people. Each year, hundreds of immigrants arrive at the Twin Cities and Metropolitan areas. The primary mission of the Oromo SDA Church of Minnesota is to minister the good news of the gospel to the Oromo Communities and others in the Twin Cities and its metropolitan areas.

The church is in a very unique and challenging position to assist its members to meet their spiritual, economic, and social needs in this newly adopted home, the Twin Cities. The church members trust that the Lord will continue to lead and bless the church as He did in the past. They believe more than ever before that God has a divine purpose for the existence of the Oromo SDA Church of Minnesota.