Solomon Telahun Ketsela, pastor of Assemblies Trinity Ethiopian Church (ATEC) in Alexandria, Virginia, died Oct. 29, 2024, at the age of 63 following a sudden illness.
Ketsela had pastored at ATEC, which joined USMB’s Eastern District Conference in September 2018, for 12 years.
“Pastor Solomon was a servant of God and student of the Bible,” says Terry Hunt, pastor of The Life Center in Lenoir, N.C., and former district minister. “He cherished his wife and loved his children. He was the author of two books, including Creation and Human Responsibility, and The Shining Ones.”
Ketsela was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Dec. 24, 1960, to Telahun Feseha and Roman Demsse.
He completed his secondary education at Kedamawi Hailesilassie Secondary School and earned a degree in theology from the Evangelical Theological College. He also earned a master’s degree at EGST.
Ketsela continued his studies in the U.S., earning a master’s degree from Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peace Building. He had started pursuing his doctorate in church planting and ministry at Regent University.
After accepting Jesus Christ as his personal savior in 1988 and receiving water baptism at Misrak AA Meserete Kristos Church, Ketsela served in the choir, youth ministry, education and training and as a church elder.
He served as the public relations representative for the Meserete Kristos Church College and was the author of several books. He also collaborated on various translation works and served as an editor for other authors.
Ketsela taught at theological institutions in Ethiopia, including PTC and Meserete Kristos College. After moving to the U.S. to pursue higher education, he served as pastor at Assemblies Trinity Ethiopian Church until his passing. The church has since closed its doors, according to Hunt.
In recent years, Ketsela served as the director of North American Ethiopian Evangelical Churches Fellowship and played a crucial role in the recent 50th Jubilee celebration.
Ketsela is survived by his wife Muluberhan, son Zefetret and daughter Zetseat. A memorial service was held Nov. 6, 2024, at Amanuel Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Alexandria, with a funeral service Nov. 7.
Ketsela was featured in a Spring 2010 article in Eastern Mennonite University’s Crossroads magazine. Read it here: https://emu.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16154coll2/id/9096/
Read the obituary: https://www.foundandsons.com/obituaries/Solomon-Telahun-Ketsela/#!/Obituary
Janae Rempel Shafer is the Christian Leader associate editor. She joined the CL staff in September 2017 with six years of experience as a professional journalist. Shafer is an award-winning writer, having received three 2016 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence and an Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals award in 2022. Shafer graduated from Tabor College in 2010 with a bachelor of arts in Communications/Journalism and Biblical/Religious Studies. She and her husband, Austin, attend Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas.
