Our Mission and History

• St. Elias Mission Statement

We believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and we invite all Arabic-speaking Christians and inquirers to journey together in God’s hopeful ark.

• St Elias' Vision

The congregation strives to be a welcoming place for all people of Arabic or Middle Eastern heritage. The people of St. Elias know what it means to be a new immigrant or refugee. St. Elias provides community, support and warm hospitality. St. Elias is a place to find faith, heritage and culture.

Many of St. Elias' members are immigrants, refugees, or first-generation Americans. Their countries of origin range from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq in the Middle East to Egypt and the Sudan in Africa.

The congregation meets for worship in Arabic (with an English translation available) and for fellowship; Arabic classes are offered to adults and children in the congregation and community. The congregation also offers English as a Second Language courses.

St. Elias also offers assistance for immigration services through Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service.

Many more programs and opportunities to be involved are available.

• History of St. Elias

St. Elias Arabic Christian Church was started in 1995 by Pastor Rimon Said, a Jerusalem-born mission developer trained and ordained by the ELCA, as an outreach to Arabic-speaking and Middle Eastern Christians.

In 2001, St. Elias was officially recognized by the Metropolitan Chicago synod as an ELCA congregation.

The congregation today is served by the Rev. Gabi Aelabouni, born near Nazareth in the Holy Land and ordained by the ELCA in July 2005.

From its beginning, the congregation has been partnered with Immanuel Lutheran Church on the north side of Chicago. St. Elias and Immanuel share a sanctuary, offices and fellowship.