International worship and celebration at Ridgeway

Small international flags along the roadway ushered people to the parking area behind Ridgeway Mennonite church in Harrisonburg for an international service of prayer, song, and celebration on Sunday, August 31. Typically, Ridgeway meets inside at 9:30 and Manantial de Vida (MDV) meets inside at 1 p.m. But that day, both churches enjoyed a combined service outdoors, open to the diverse neighborhood.

The playground pavilion became a stage where MDV musicians began with joyful songs of praise. Pastor Carlos Malvaez led most of the service and gave the morning message, translated for both English and Spanish speakers. A large white tent next to the pavilion provided shade and seating. Close to the church building, an inflatable waterslide kept children engaged. The playground adjacent and behind the pavilion also enticed the children all morning long.

Both congregations are already multi-ethnic. MDV includes not only Spanish speakers, but people from Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova. Swahili-speaking families, refugees from DR Congo, have found a home at Ridgeway, which already had members from India and Nigeria. The countries represented that morning included Canada, Mexico, USA, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Peru, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine; Congo, Tanzania, Nigeria, India. Languages used in the service were Spanish, English, Russian, Ukrainian, and Swahili.

Small groups of people representing several countries at a time went forward to share and pray for their countries – especially countries torn by war and violence. Multilingual music wove together the segments of prayer and the morning message. Musicians from both congregations led singing. 

A festival of ethnic foods followed the service. Under eleven food tents, people from various ethnicities and cultures spread out their favorite foods.

“Can we do this again?” people asked. People employed at the same workplaces were pleased to discover each other at the event. Some Congolese said they liked worshiping outdoors, with the spirited music, dancing, and prayers. It felt like home!

–Angela Rempel, Ridgeway