From The Streets of Toronto

“Perhaps it is a bit unusual,” comments Pastor Kassa, “but our church began on the streets of Toronto.”

Kassa Lemma spent his first three months in Canada in a shelter. He was disturbed by the confusion in people’s lives and the depression he saw in their eyes. A vision grew in his heart for helping people – specifically Ethiopian immigrants like himself.

Ezra Mulu, also Ethiopian, was intrigued when Pastor Kassa shared his dream to start a church for Ethiopian immigrants. “Why don’t we evangelize together?” was Ezra’s response. The two men began in a subway station and by the end of the first day, three people were interested in the new church. At the next subway station, they met Clinton who was working for the Gideon Bible Society distributing Bibles. Kassa and Ezra joined him in giving out Bibles and established more contacts.

Ezra bought a guitar for $100, he and Clinton contributed funds to rent a room in a church, and with six people they began to worship. In June 2005, Rehoboth Evangelical Church was born. They continued to go out into the streets and subways and invite people in.

Pastor Kassa was familiar with the Mennonite Church in Ethiopia. Knowing that it was important to connect with other churches, he explained to the leaders of Rehoboth that he wished to contact the Mennonite Church here in Canada. An initial conversation in a Bloor Street coffee shop with Brian Bauman, MCEC Mission Minister, was met with enthusiasm. This young church is eager to further develop
their relationship with MCEC and join in the mission of extending the peace of Jesus Christ.