Rev. Lewi Jesuwa Jermiya

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Born and raised in Barentu, a town of approximately 15,000 people located in northwestern Eritrea, Lewi was baptized and confirmed in the local Lutheran congregation where his father served as one of the church elders. His grandparents, along with the rest of his family were also members. It was also in Barentu that he received his primary and secondary school education. 

During the Eritrean-Ethiopian Civil War of 1998 – 2000 he, together with other members of his family, were forced to flee the area, and sought refuge in the Shimelba Refugee Camp in Ethiopia where he for remained for 15 years. While there he met and married his beautiful wife Arobat.  Their first child, Malidiya, was born during that time. Their second child, Malanya, was born in St. Louis. 

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While a teenager Lewi, together with other young members of the Barentu congregation, became very much involved in evangelistic activities, not only in their local community, but in nearby villages as well. His church leadership and evangelistic work only intensified after his family was displaced to the Shimelba Refugee Camp. There he was instrumental in providing leadership for the establishment of a large Lutheran congregation. A Kunama speaker from his youth, he has also mastered an ability to read and write Tigrinya, Amharic and English. 

In 2017, Lewi and his family were selected for resettlement to the USA, arriving in St. Louis on November 30th. Within just three days they became very much involved in a small but growing Eritrean/Ethiopian Bible Fellowship which was, at that time, attached to Timothy Lutheran Church. Within a year Lewi also became involved in the activities of Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA).  This involvement had everything to do with his participation in their pre-EIIT (Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology) class. After a few months Lewi applied for admission to Concordia Seminary’s EIIT program and was accepted. In September of 2019 he began his studies which were to last for four years. Not only did Lewi compete his study program in an exemplary manner he, together with a few of his colleagues, established an on-line Kunama Bible Study class which has grown to more than 80 participants. 

On April 26, Lewi accepted a call from St. Trinity Lutheran Church to serve as a pastor and missionary among New Americans in the St. Louis area and beyond. His responsibilities also include the expansion of the on-line Kunama Bible Study ministry to include the establishment of Bible Fellowships in key locations throughout the USA. This aspect of his ministry will be carried out in concert with his friends and co-workers at CFNA. 

Please join us in praying for Rev. Jermiya and his family, as well as for the advancement of Rev. Jermiya’s ministry throughout the St. Louis area and beyond. 

By Rev. Al Buckman
Board Chair, CFNA