The Dejane family at one of Pastor's sons' high school graduation.
Pastor Dejane preaching in PBEF.
Our Pastor
Pastor Zerhun Dejane began ministering by the time he was 16 years old. He was hungry for the Word of God and prayer, gradually spending more and more of his time in both. Through that spiritual influence, he began to see himself completely differently and felt compelled to share the gospel both in and out of town, sometimes walking 3-4 hours through the rural areas of Ethiopia to spread the Word of God to others.
Church leaders in his community recognized his commitment to evangelizing as God's calling for him, and decided to offer to send him to preach and evangelize full time. He accepted their support as confirmation from the Lord that he was to spend his life in ministry. Pastor Dejane later studied at Concordia Seminary in the Theological Education by Extension program, and received a Master's in Divinity at Sioux Falls Seminary in the United States.
When he came to South Dakota in the early 2000s, he started preaching and helping other immigrants by interpreting for them and providing information on where they can find resources. He felt burdened to begin an Ethiopian church in the area, and founded Peniel Baptist Fellowship in 2019. He lives in Sioux Falls with his wife and sons, seeking to provide a home church for local immigrants and preaching in Oromo, Amharic, and translating to English or Swahili when needed.
Because of the current limited financial capacity of the congregation, Pastor works in addition to pastoring to support his family. He works as a chaplain at Smithfield Foods, Inc., for 30 hours a month as part of his ministry, as well as part time in another assembly job company. More than 85% of Smithfield employees are from outside of United States, and Pastor Dejane's ability to speak multiple languages gives him a special opportunity to reach them as they navigate the immigration and relocation process. His missionary efforts to this growing community focus on providing them with what they need both physically and spiritually.
Testimonials
Pastor Brett Best from Emmanuel Baptist Church has worked with Pastor Dejane for 10 years, and he said,
"His ministry in partnership with his church has always been centered on assisting immigrants in making their transition to a new and productive life as United States citizens. Their assistance is comprehensive, helping to provide for material needs, finding work, and at the same time supporting the spiritual growth of the recipients. Peniel Ethiopian Church achieves an excellent mix of service and witness in their ministry to our community."
Joel Fredrickson, the pastor at the church building that PBEF rents for services, said,
"In the past, Zerhun and his church, Peniel Ethiopian Church, have rented space in our building for their worship services, and we have had a wonderful time getting to know them over the years. He and his congregation always took very good care of our building, and I can tell that he has built healthy relationships with people both inside and outside of his community. I consider him a partner in ministry as we have been able to work together to help others in our community.
Zerhun is very aware of the needs, not only of the Ethiopian population in Sioux Falls, but others as well, and he has done an excellent job helping to connect them with resources. Together we have been able to help an Ethiopian college student transition from Augustana University to USD, as well as assist a family in moving from Ethiopia to the United States. People in our immigrant community who are trying to adapt to a new culture and make ends meet have tremendous obstacles to overcome, and yet, Peniel Ethiopian Church is committed to sacrificing what they have to serve God’s kingdom and his people."
Fred Wilgenburg, director & pastor of New Roots Ministry, said,
"I have the privilege of having Zerhun work with me in providing workplace chaplaincy at Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls, and it's in this role that I see Zerhun is good at pastoral care. I have also been to Peniel Baptist Ethiopian Fellowship, and I have experienced that Zerhun and his congregation provide good, authentic worship. These attributes, along with the church being welcoming to any new person from anywhere, makes it a great church."
Steve Haugaard, attorney and former Speaker of the House for South Dakota, said,
"I have known Pastor Dejane for many years. I have witnessed how he has weathered the storms of life and he has been found faithful. He is committed to living out the principles of his faith even when it appears that it will be to his detriment. Thankfully, in those circumstances he and his family have seen over and over again the blessings that flow from standing on the firm foundation of the Word and trusting in Jesus Christ. I am thankful for his ministry."
"For the past 13+ years it has been a blessing to know Pastor Zerhun and support him in his seminary education, ministry to the community, and church leadership. In that time I have found Pastor Zerhun to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, called to the ministry of loving others through sacrificial service and spiritual leadership. I am inspired by Pastor Zerhun's faith, perseverance, and trust in the Lord, and I continue to pray for God's blessing upon Zerhun, his family, his ministry, and his church family!"
