Beautiful Savior began as a mission church when in 1957 Pastor Herman Kuhlmann traveled to Bloomfield Hills from his church, Grace Lutheran Detroit, weekly to preach, baptize, and grow the new church. Last November the congregation celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with a special offering dedicated to one of its mission partners, Christ the King Lapeer.
BSBH has been a Mission Partner since Pastor MacClean in 1969 accepted the call from the fledgling congregation. The congregants were well aware they were a mission church that accepted help from other congregations, and they are eager to return the favor ever since. Partnering has been a tradition, a part of sharing what they learn from the gospel in the Great Commission to go forth and teach all nations, and love thy neighbor as thyself.
BSBH has partnered with at least eighteen congregations according to available records, and the amount of participation has varied. As an example, in 1982, they partnered with Truth Lutheran while in 1988 they partnered with Divinity Lutheran, Holy Savior, Zion, St. Martin, St. Olaf, and Faith Memorial. They also helped to fund ELCA ASOP (a summer program) and Lutheran Social Services.
A committee of the church members meets regularly to review requests received directly or from the synod office. The committee, as good stewards, monitors all the programs they are funding and in rare cases has fund it necessary to discontinue funding a particular program due to non performance. Recently a member of the church came to the committee and told of a church his mother attended that was having difficulty in paying current operating expenses and the Pastor's salary. His appeal eventually resulted in a new partnership with a church in the northern part of the Synod.
BSBH currently partners with four local congregations and one in West Africa. Due to BSBH support, a high percentage of their partners over the years were able to continue to do God's work, and a few are thriving. The congregation benefits because they know they are working in a local mission effort. They feel involved because they know who they are working with and can rejoice in the successes and work hard to prevent failures; BSBH participates in exchange of pulpits with their partners which gives a new perspective and understanding. A parishioner told this writer that the Partnership Program is hands on. It is real, the benefits are measurable and recognizable, not theoretical. They highly recommend that any congregation that is considering a partnership do so. The experience is enriching and joyful.
In 2008, BSBH is partnering with Christ the King Lapeer, Mother of the Savior Arabic Lutheran Church Dearborn, Peace Southfield, Salem Flint, and Gendabi Mbulu, Tanzania. BSBH also supports with volunteers and funds through The Matthew 25 Group which is dedicated to feeding the hungry (soup kitchen), healing the sick (drug and alcohol abuse) visiting those in prison (ex-convict support) and clothing donations (the naked). BSBH further supports the Emergency Assistance Ministry of Birmingham, Southfield, and Troy.
Bill Swasey
Special thanks to David and Marie Nordstrom
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Abundant Life Arabic Lutheran Church Case Statement
The Abundant Life Arabic Lutheran Church
19100 Ford Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
(313) 336-0036
A mission start of the ELCA and the Southeast Michigan Synod, the Abundant Life Arabic Lutheran ministry is only the third Arabic speaking congregation in the ELCA. The Abundant Life is located in Dearborn, MI and is the only Arabic Christian congregation in the city of Dearborn.
Michigan, and more specifically Southeast Michigan, has one of the largest Arab/Middle Eastern communities outside the Middle East. This unique immigrant community originates from countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Iran, and others.
The city of Dearborn has a population of about 96,000 of which about 35,000 are of Middle Eastern descent. 90% of this Middle Eastern community is of the Muslim faith. This leads to a minority presence of the Middle Eastern Christian community in Dearborn and hence elevates the uniqueness and necessity of the ministry of the Abundant life in Dearborn and the Metro Area. The Abundant Life has become the Arab Christian voice in Dearborn.
The Abundant Life continues to live its mission of witnessing the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the love of God and love of our neighbors. Physically located next to several religious organizations, our church is also a neighbor to the largest Mosque in North America. In the community of Dearborn the Abundant Life has been known as a leader in establishing and nurturing the Christian-Muslim dialogue, and has been featured in the most watched video of the ELCA: “Understanding Islam” with over 23,500 viewers since June of 2006. Also our church has been recognized and received the “bridge building Award” by the ADC under the patronage of her majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, queen of Jordan for building this Christian-Muslim relationship in our community, October of 2003.
Since the Middle Eastern world continues to lack a deep understanding of the Lutheran identity, it is no wonder that almost all of the members of the Abundant Life come from other Christian traditions such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Melkite, etc. and embrace the doctrine of grace embedded in God’s love for us sinners manifested in the act of redemption of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we as Lutherans proudly, humbly and dearly hold in our hearts.
God has touched many people through this humble ministry of the Abundant Life. Whether through an ESL (English as a second Language) program, or assistance in filing an immigration form, referral to community resources and centers, counseling, worship and Bible study in Arabic, leading the community and with the community in addressing racial profiling and injustice inflicted upon the immigrant community, advocating for peace in the world and especially in the Middle East, or building an awareness about the Arab Christians that so often have been forgotten, I believe and I know that God has been and continues to be at work in our midst.
Glory be to God! Amen.
19100 Ford Road
Dearborn, MI 48128
(313) 336-0036
A mission start of the ELCA and the Southeast Michigan Synod, the Abundant Life Arabic Lutheran ministry is only the third Arabic speaking congregation in the ELCA. The Abundant Life is located in Dearborn, MI and is the only Arabic Christian congregation in the city of Dearborn.
Michigan, and more specifically Southeast Michigan, has one of the largest Arab/Middle Eastern communities outside the Middle East. This unique immigrant community originates from countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Iran, and others.
The city of Dearborn has a population of about 96,000 of which about 35,000 are of Middle Eastern descent. 90% of this Middle Eastern community is of the Muslim faith. This leads to a minority presence of the Middle Eastern Christian community in Dearborn and hence elevates the uniqueness and necessity of the ministry of the Abundant life in Dearborn and the Metro Area. The Abundant Life has become the Arab Christian voice in Dearborn.
The Abundant Life continues to live its mission of witnessing the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the love of God and love of our neighbors. Physically located next to several religious organizations, our church is also a neighbor to the largest Mosque in North America. In the community of Dearborn the Abundant Life has been known as a leader in establishing and nurturing the Christian-Muslim dialogue, and has been featured in the most watched video of the ELCA: “Understanding Islam” with over 23,500 viewers since June of 2006. Also our church has been recognized and received the “bridge building Award” by the ADC under the patronage of her majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, queen of Jordan for building this Christian-Muslim relationship in our community, October of 2003.
Since the Middle Eastern world continues to lack a deep understanding of the Lutheran identity, it is no wonder that almost all of the members of the Abundant Life come from other Christian traditions such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Melkite, etc. and embrace the doctrine of grace embedded in God’s love for us sinners manifested in the act of redemption of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we as Lutherans proudly, humbly and dearly hold in our hearts.
God has touched many people through this humble ministry of the Abundant Life. Whether through an ESL (English as a second Language) program, or assistance in filing an immigration form, referral to community resources and centers, counseling, worship and Bible study in Arabic, leading the community and with the community in addressing racial profiling and injustice inflicted upon the immigrant community, advocating for peace in the world and especially in the Middle East, or building an awareness about the Arab Christians that so often have been forgotten, I believe and I know that God has been and continues to be at work in our midst.
Glory be to God! Amen.
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