Sudanese Christians gather in Owatonna for worship on Owatonna

OWATONNA — “God is alive always.”

The words were delivered in a strong voice in a service at the Associated Church in Owatonna on Saturday. But these words weren’t those of the church’s pastor, the Rev. Ron Wilson.

Instead, African voices sounded off with praise to God in a Sudanese service — a gathering of immigrant Presbyterians living in southern Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas City, Mo.

“They would have come from Sudan or Ethiopa,” said Jerry Ganfield, a member of the Associated Church who was on hand for the service on Saturday. “Many of them historically are Presbyterians because the Sudan had a missionary by the Presbyterian Church,” he said.

Ganfield said Associated Church is also home to a Sudanese family. Omot Bawar and his wife Ariet, who is from Ethiopia, reside in Owatonna with their three children. Bawar has been a member of the church since 2004.

As well as participating in the weekly worship services offered at the Associated Church, Bawar also keeps in touch with the larger Sudanese community in Minnesota, as many area immigrants come from the same tribes, the Anyuak or the Bari. They have come together in the U.S. as the United Anyuak Church, and they come together from across the Midwest to celebrate as a people as often as they can.

“They try to do this about four times a year,” said Ganfield. “They have a pastor from out of town officiating as well as our pastor.”

The day of worship, which opened its doors at 11 a.m., was slated to run until 8 p.m., finishing off with a traditional dinner of lamb and African spices. But the focus of the congregation, on this Easter weekend, was on one sole concept — worship.

As more Sudanese congregants began to arrive in the afternoon, casually enjoying fellowship and sharing stories in their native tongue, musicians were practicing in the sanctuary. And when the crowd of 75 to 100 people finally gathered for the beginning of the program, the sanctuary was filled with vibrant sound. The choir lined up into one single file line and marched down the center aisle, singing and clapping their hands. They sang familiar songs in foreign languages, like “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” that were perhaps altered for the upbeat sound made by African drums.

“It’s an expression of who they are as an African,” said Wilson. He said instead of following so closely the formats seen in other churches, the Sudanese are more focused on the emotion found in worship, moving through the motions at their own pace.

From the alternating voices of the choir, to the tambourines and African drums, the congregation came alive with music. The musical pieces that were planned for the program were interrupted only by lively speeches and sermons.

The formal Easter celebration, which included a lot more movement and dancing than most Christian services, concluded with the sharing of communion, something that, as a group, was new to the Sudanese.

“It’s the first time they’ve ever done it before,” said Wilson. Though he said this was the second time the Associated Church has hosted a large group like this.

Bawar said though Sudanese and Ethiopian Presbyterians try to share the same experiences in their home country, they are often hindered by political infighting.

“They don’t pray freely,” he said. But he said the Associated Church made his tribe feel welcome. “It’s going to be in belief of Jesus Christ, that we are the same,” he said.

Melissa Kaelin can be reached at 444-2372.

Share:

Digg

Guidelines: Welcome to the Owatonna People's Press community. Please keep your comments civil. Don't attack other readers personally and keep your language decent. If you would like to report abuse click here to notify us.

Login and voice your opinion!