Saturday, June 21, 2014
Commemoration
Onesimos Nesib, Translator, Evangelist, 1931
Reflection
Onesimos (the Greek spelling) took his name after the slave who ran away from his owner, Philemon, whom the Apostle Paul writes about in his letter to Philemon. Onesimos, born in 1855, was captured by slave traders in his homeland of Galla in western Ethiopia and taken to Eritrea, where he had the good fortune to be bought and freed by Swedish missionaries. He was nurtured in the faith by the missionary family, who shared with him their zeal for spreading the gospel. Onesimos sought to bring Christianity to his homeland, and he translated the entire Bible into Galla, returning there to preach and teach, despite cultural difficulties, including the practice that Galla men demonstrated their readiness to marry by presenting a body part of a slain man to his bride. Onesimos fell ill on his way to preach at the present Mekane Yesus Church at Naqamte, and he died peacefully that evening. Inscribed on his tombstone are the words of the prophet Jeremiah, “O Land, O Land, hear the word of the Lord” (Jeremiah 22:29).
Prayer
Gracious God, Thank you for your servants to bring your Good News to people in ways they can understand. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor David
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