Making a joyful noise in Massachusetts
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SEEKONK, Mass. — “We need to see what the Lord is doing,” says Seekonk FMC pastor Jim Wills. His sanctuary seats 80 and is bursting at the seams due to an influx of immigrants.
More than 80 percent of Burundian Christians in Providence, R.I., currently call Seekonk their home church. Wills says he’s ministered to refugees in the past, and “they often scatter after assimilating.” But the current group of 54 Africans seems more than happy to be a part of this increasingly international flock.
For many years, the Seekonk congregation has been largely Native American, with a few Filipinos in the mix. With this latest addition, worship services are still conducted in English (with translation), but hymns are sung — simultaneously — in English, French, Kirundi and Swahili. “Many bring Bibles and hymnals in their own language,” says Wills.
The Burundian influx began four years ago with the arrival of Samy Ndayisaba and his two daughters, Silvie and Monique. Ndayisaba studied medicine in Congo, but when war erupted he was identified as a Hutu and beaten severely. The family escaped to the Ivory Coast and applied for asylum in the United States. While they waited, the girls’ mother became ill and died. Ndayisaba then met and married Sidonie, a Methodist evangelist.
When Ndayisaba and his daughters were finally approved for emigration, his now-pregnant wife wasn’t allowed to accompany them. Her documentation (and the baby’s) was filed and handled separately. The family was reunited in the U.S. after two years and now serves as an informal welcoming committee for the Burundian immigrants finding their way to the church.
Ndayisaba is a licensed medical interpreter in French, Kirundi and Swahili. He works at a state-run refugee center, where he first met many of Seekonk’s newcomers. One group of refugees were Pentecostals, readily comfortable with Free Methodism; they arrived with church membership papers in hand. The Free Methodists among the immigrants transferred their membership immediately; others are going through the process.
No one knows exactly what the future holds, but for now the church is helping the refugees search for jobs and get settled — always offering much-needed love and encouragement. And, of course, providing a weekly opportunity to gather for church, hear the Word of God and sing His praises in their native languages. How welcoming is that?
