ATLANTA – April 27 was a great day of celebration for United Methodists in the Central African Republic (CAR). Many gathered for the inaugural worship service in their new church building, a United Methodist temple in Bangui. Church members watched in wonder as choirs, men’s groups, women’s groups, youth groups and church leaders lined up to walk through the temple doors and enter the sanctuary. The pastor, the Rev. Aquilas Soronaka, and Deacon Cynthia Soronaka took their places behind the altar, which was decked out in proper vestments. Nothing could dampen the joy that flowed out of the open windows of the new temple that day.
A week later, Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, showed a few minutes of the video of the CAR opening worship in its May 4 service.
“That gives new meaning to the phrase ‘Make a joyful noise onto the Lord,’” the Rev. Dr. Kevin Murriel proclaimed to his congregation. Cascade UMC, a predominantly Black congregation, is one of the partners that made the building of the UMC temple possible. About a year ago, the congregation collected and dedicated its Lenten offering of more than $150,000 to the building of the facility in Bangui (see earlier story). An additional grant from Cascade helped to furnish the church and purchase musical instruments to enhance the church’s joyful noise.
“This has been an overwhelming blessing in the life of that church,” Murriel continued, “a church that is growing exponentially, and Pastor Aquilas has told me they have already celebrated a first baptism and a first wedding in that church.”
CAR leadership was able to purchase land for the building with the help of a Global Ministries’ grant, another partner in their work as a Global Ministries’ mission initiative. The new temple has a 500-seat capacity, and a section of the building also houses the CAR UMC national offices, so the church has created a central home.
A separate Global Health grant will support the building of the first UMC health facility in the CAR, which will also include a borehole well to ensure clean, potable water. The health facility, the church and the surrounding community will be able to draw water at this well.
Frido Kinkolenge, Global Ministries’ staff and Africa area liaison, noted: “They are not only going to fetch the water from the well, but it is going to be an opportunity to drink from a spiritual well. The United Methodist Church is bringing not only a place to worship, but a place to quench thirst that is both physical and spiritual.”
Last year, Kinkolenge led a Youth Leadership Development course in Bagui, providing relevant resources, creative ideas and training for this new generation of Central African Methodists.
In July, staff members from various units of Global Ministries and a few members of Cascade United Methodist Church will travel to Bangui to participate in the dedication ceremony of the new UMC Temple. While Cascade members have an opportunity to deepen their relationships with CAR members there, Global Ministries will offer more training, and a Global Health team will meet with leaders to review the plans for the facility and the church’s overall health program.
Faith has sustained the church through some challenging years, and today, hope is growing and blossoming as God creates a new faith community in the Central African Republic.
Christie R. House is a consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.
