Diversity in the Harvest Field Expands

by Terry H Shanahan, Northeast Region Minister

…Because you were slain,  and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Revelation 5:9)

As scripture teaches us that Christ was slain for all peoples, tribes and nations, it has caused us to be mindful of having a membership reflective of the harvest field’s diversity. One place that is being realized is in Portland, Maine.

In May of 1994 the International Christian Fellowship was a church plant which held its first services at St Luke’s Church in Portland, Maine and later rented a chapel at the Chestnut Street United Methodist Church. In answer to their many prayers and with the support of many churches, friends and other organizations, God blessed them in the purchase of their own building on Lafayette Street in the Munjoy Hill area of Portland. With only 22 regular parishioners they dedicated their new church to God on December 10, 2000.

After twelve years, International Christian Fellowship outgrew its church on Lafayette Street. They are excited to be in their new location at 36 Patrick Drive in Westbrook, Maine. In 2011 they sought to join with the CCCC as our first African church. I was blessed to be with them on October 13 of this year and preach at the dedication and ribbon cutting for this new building.

Today International Christian Fellowship has two hundred members from more then ten African nations, all coming together under Christ’s umbrella to advance the Kingdom of God.

As Pastor Mutima said at the dedication, “I would like to welcome all of you, your families and your friends to come and worship with us. Those of you who already know us, know that we are a ‘HOPE’ church to many who have lost hope, and have endured hardships of wars, genocide and famine. Our services resemble in many ways the African style of Christian worship while incorporating some elements from contemporary American churches. New arrivals from Africa find a warm and embracing community here in which to worship. Americans receive the same welcome. Our church is as much about the social experience as the spiritual one. Before we moved to this new location, there wasn’t enough room to provide all the services that we wanted. Now we will soon be offering classes in computers, job skills and English language. We also hope to open a day care center. We will create a better future for our members in our community.”

Reflective of great diversity, this church looks different to some of us in many ways, but together we praise Christ as the author of our salvation. And we see His hand at work in this place.

PS. Our most recent Cornerstone Project is to benefit this church and their new building.