Onesimos Nesib, Ethiopian Evangelical Pioneer

Abstract

With Sarah Hinlicky Wilson, Samuel Yonas Deressa edited the latest LQ Book on Tsehay Tolessa and Gudina Tumsa, recent leaders of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, now with nine million members. Here Deressa goes back to the indigenous pioneer of this church, Onesimos Nesib (1856–1931), from his childhood slavery in Oromo through his baptism (Easter, 1872) and further education in Stockholm to his extensive and influential translations: the Bible, Luther's Small Catechism, many hymns and short stories. Deressa, adjunct faculty at Concordia University St. Paul, is a 2017 PhD graduate of Luther Seminary, 1570 Eustis Street, Apt. 306, Lauderdale, MN 55108; sderessa001@luthersem.edu.