By Jeffery Weaver, IMMC Board Treasurer, College Mennonite Church
This past June I had the opportunity to visit one of the two IMMC congregations in Indianapolis formed by Chin people who immigrated from Myanmar (also known as Burma). Pastor Jeremiah Chuiha at Emmanual Living Christian Church in Indianapolis welcomed Sharon Yoder (conference minister), Micheline Ilonga (First Mennonite, Indianapolis), and myself to worship in their Sunday morning service on June 28 and to meet with their leadership team. I was particularly excited for this visit because of the vibrant celebration I remembered experiencing with the Buffalo Chin Emmanuel Church soon after they joined New York Mennonite Conference. Their profession of faith in the face of the challenges and horrors they experienced in Myanmar still resonate in me.
While many Chin immigrants understand and speak English, the Emmanual Living congregation finds meaning in their native tongue, native clothes (full of color!), and traditions. Most of the singing and speaking in the service was in their native language of the Dai tribe, yet I found the experience to be worshipful and uplifting. Pastor Jeremiah provided some brief translation when individuals shared testimony, I recognized scripture when it was read, and some of the songs shared familiar melodies. Despite not knowing much of what they said, their energy and love of God was evident throughout the service and pulled me into a moment of worship with them.
In most churches today the offering is a moment of providing financial gifts back to the church. On this Sunday morning, the congregation did pass an offering plate, but the communion table in the front of the sanctuary was also filled with very literal “first fruits.” Congregants had brought in stacks of fresh greens, flowers, and some fruits from their own gardens as their first harvests of the season, demonstrating profound generosity and a deep love for their neighbors and congregation.
This experience was a reminder that sometimes shared words and language are not necessary to be truly present with our neighbors. The language barrier encouraged me to more fully engage in the worship experience in a prayerful manner, and to experience the beauty and generosity that the Chin people offered through their worship.