World Religion Day & Martin Luther
King
Holiday program
Baha'i
Faith Information Center - Saturday,
January 17 -
Program
included the presentation of awards to two individuals promoting
interfaith amity and harmony in the St. Louis area. This year's
honorees are Mrs. Barbara Russell and Mr. Gedlu B. Metaferia.
World Religion Day, observed on third week in January, was initiated
in 1950 by the national administrative body of the Baha’is of the
United States.
Baha’u’llah, Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith, taught all
true religion came from one source through successive messengers
which have included Abraham, Moses, Christ, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster,
Muhammad, the Bab and Baha’ullah.
According to the Baha’i Writings religion " should be the
cause of love and agreement, a bond to unify all mankind for it
is a message of peace and goodwill to man from God." "Religion
is the greatest of all means for the establishment of order in the
world and for the peaceful contentment of all that dwell
therein."
Fatima's popular walk-up counter in the U-City Loop
serves authentic Nigerian cuisine. Photo by Wiley
Price
ST. LOUIS - The Yohannes brothers' restaurant, Bar Italia,
has been the buzz since they set up shop in the
Central West End nearly 20 years ago.
"We had the first espresso bar in St. Louis, and we
introduced gelato, homemade Italian ice cream to the city,"
boasts co-owner Mengesha Yohannes, who manages the
restaurant.
The brothers are natives of Ethiopia, and settled here 20
years ago to attend school. Mengesha graduated from St.
Louis University with degrees in biology and chemistry and
attended Washington University Medical School.
By: Tavia Evans, St. Louis American Staff Writer
Full Article
Ethiopian here is ordinary man doing extraordinary work
By Sylvester Brown Jr. Of the Post-Dispatch 10/14/2004
Sylvester Brown Jr.
"There aren't any great men. There are just great challenges that ordinary men like you and me are forced by circumstances to meet."
The words attributed to Adm. William Frederick Halsey Jr. came to mind as Gedlu Metaferia, 52, the founder of the African Mutual Assistance Association of Missouri, told me his story. It's a story punctuated by an escape from a brutal dictator and a 20-year mission that has helped thousands find the American dream.
Full Article
They remember life under tyrants, and value the right of every citizen to cast a vote and affect elections.
By GEDLU
B. METAFERIA For many refugees and immigrants, coming to America is a courageous exodus from human rights abuse, religious or political
persecution, poverty, war ethnic cleansing and torture. As one advocate of
these new Americans has put it, “We have voted in our feet to come here.”
Full Article
"Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future
and renders the present inaccessible."
"For Africa to me … is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical
truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where
he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place."
News
Publications
Program
included the presentation of awards to two individuals promoting
interfaith amity and harmony in the St. Louis area. This year's
honorees are Mrs. Barbara Russell and Mr. Gedlu B. Metaferia.
