What happened at the All Peoples Summit at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Puyallup, Washington, on Aug. 22? Connections, celebration, prayer, breaking bread (or pupusas!), and much encouragement. Here is a short summary of the day:
- Welcome and greetings from NOW District President Mike Von Behren. A reflection on Psalm 62 and God’s love and power to save all peoples, and to move us to accept each other, adopt aspects from another’s culture, and especially, to integrate as one.
- Cultural communities sharing hymns and songs, and reading Revelation 7:9-11 (a great multitude from every nation and tribe gathered around the Throne) in their native tongue. From a Cheyenne a capella solo to a large choir presentation with choreography by the Marshallese, songs were filled with praise and thanksgiving, reflecting the image in Revelation 7.
- These languages were represented:
– Latino
– Mayan
– Sudanese
– Cheyenne
– Kenyan
– Burmese
– Karen
– Marshallese - Lunch! Shared meal and fellowship. New friends Pastor Ruberto Ek Yah and Marshallese Song Leader Eddison Mathusla exchanged traditional attire! [photo]
- Sharing joys and struggles as immigrant or minority cultures in the Pacific Northwest… from missed social cues to domestic violence and drug use, coping with the trauma of culture shock and physical and emotional wounds.
- Learning about trauma healing from Lutheran Indian Ministries
- Group photo! Hugs, wishes, and Godspeed
During the gathering, NOW District Board of Directors member Linda Borecki photographed a few people and asked them one question: “What is one thing about doing ministry in your context that you wish the NOW District — staff, congregations, board of directors — understood but doesn’t yet know?” Here are some of the individuals and their answers:
“I’d like people to know the variety of countries represented in our District, how beautiful it is to realize that many cultures can be one.” – Sara Cardona, Vice President of Lutheran Latino Ministries in Woodburn, Oregon
“We need to have patience with each other, to learn more about our cultures, about how we do ministry and the challenges people face. Like, having midweek worship, since in some Latino communities people have to work and can’t worship Sundays.” – Carlos Velazquez, vicar of Hispanic Ministries in Orange County, California, in transition to the Pacific Northwest
“I wish they knew about the ongoing struggle within the Sudanese immigrant community, what they are going through – the ongoing culture shock, family separations, domestic struggles. The civil war in Sudan continues – there is no food, no medicine, people are dying. Please pray for the Christians in Sudan and the Sudanese immigrants here.” – Rev. Albino Kong, associate pastor and Sudanese ministry leader, Anchorage Lutheran Church in Anchorage, Alaska
“They don’t know who we are! I’m from the Marshall Islands. We are a little people – short! People think that we must eat different foods, but we eat the same foods. We might look different, but we are connected in Christ.” – Lisa Silk, Marshallese ministry leader, New Vision Lutheran Church in Spokane, Washington
“Our church is a place where we bring new people – new to church, new to faith. And we teach them about God creating us, coming down, dying for our sins. We help get them closer to God, people who don’t yet know who God is.” – Julius Rujke, New Vision Lutheran Church in Spokane, Washington
“I’d like all to know that trauma healing is so important, because we’ve all been through trauma. Also, that in Lutheran Indian Ministries, we are building up leaders in trauma healing, in our communities and ethnic groups.” – Suzette Schreffler (whose Cheyenne name is “Amehoa,” meaning “Flying Woman”), Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana, and representative of Lutheran Indian Ministries
Here are some photos contributed by Borecki, BOD member/Lutheran Latino Ministries President Pam Bridgehouse, and NOW District Director of Ministry Leadership Dust Kunkel. Stay tuned for more about this event!
