Title: SA=CFD AILABOUNI JOINS ELCA GLOBAL MISSION STAFF
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 12, 1997

SA=CFD AILABOUNI JOINS GLOBAL STAFF

The Rev. Sa=EFd R. Ailabouni, North Barrington, Ill., will be the program =
director for Europe, Middle East and Horn of Africa in the Division for =
Global Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, beginning =
Sept. 29.  Since 1987 he has served as pastor of Lutheran Church of the =
Atonement, Barrington, Illinois.  He will provide support to the 60 ELCA =
missionaries and volunteers serving in Europe, the Middle East and =
Ethiopia and take part in the selection of personnel for those areas.  =
Ailabouni was born in Nazareth.  He is a graduate of Concordia College, =
Moorhead, Minn., and Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.  He served as pastor =
of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Racine, Wis.  In 1988 he was awarded a =
Doctor of Ministry degree in pastoral care and counseling from Lutheran =
School of Theology at Chicago.  Ailabouni will oversee the ELCA=27s =
relationships with churches, congregations and agencies in Europe, the =
Middle East and the Horn of Africa, including the Evangelical Lutheran =
Church in Jordan (Palestine), the Ethiopian Evangelical Lutheran Mekane =
Yesus, Lutheran churches in eastern, central and western Europe and =
international English language congregations throughout Europe.  Ailabouni =
succeeds the Rev. David H. Nelson.  The Rev. Bonnie L. Jensen, executive =
director of Division for Global Mission, said, =22We welcome Pastor =
Ailabouni=27s leadership and pastoral skills, his ability in Arabic, =
French and Hebrew languages, and his deep and enduring commitment to the =
gospel of Jesus Christ.=22 =20

For information contact:=20
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS=40ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html