Christianity in Houston

===Ethiopians===
[[File:EthiopianchurchHoustoncanemont.JPG|thumb|Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church in [[Fondren Southwest]]]]
Houston's [[Ethiopian Orthodox]] church is the Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church ({{lang-am|ደብረ ሰላም መድኃኔዓለም የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን}} ''Debre Selam MedhaneAlem YeItyopphya Ortodoks Tewahedo Bete Kristiyan''; the name approximately means "Sanctuary of Peace and the Savior") in [[Fondren Southwest]].<ref name=VaraEthiop>Vara, Richard. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Ethiopian-believers-find-strength-in-Orthodox-2101478.php Ethiopian believers find strength in Orthodox church]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. February 15, 2003. Retrieved on May 5, 2014.</ref>

Prior to the construction of the church, those of the Ethiopian Orthodox faith worshiped at Coptic Orthodox churches. Mesfin Genanaw, a [[Houston Community College]] teacher who was one of the individuals who assisted with the building of the church, stated that in 1992 20 Ethiopian women who were attending a Coptic church planned the establishment of an Ethiopian church. In 1993 the group purchased a {{convert|2.5|acre|ha|adj=on}} site and a tent, and conducted church services in a tent. After fundraisers were held, in 1995 construction of the permanent church started, and the church later obtained an additional {{convert|5|acre|ha}} of land. Genanaw stated in a 2003 ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' article that there are an estimated 5,000 Ethiopians in Greater Houston.<ref name=VaraEthiop/>