Worship at the Neema Church in Overland Park, Kansas
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The heart of Johnson County may not be where most people would expect to find an immigrant church, but an East African congregation at 99th Street and Mission Road is about to make history.
A former elementary school is alive with the sound of Swahili.
Many the members of the Neema Church congregation came to the United States with green cards, looking for jobs, education and, in some cases, sanctuary. They said they’ve found it at the church.
The Rev. David Nzioka said he never imagined leading a flock so far from home.
He grew up in a poor rural village in Kenya, a community with no electricity and the nearest source of water two hours away.
Nzioka said when he and his wife came to the United States to attend seminary, people in Kansas City reached out to help. He said he’s now trying to do the same.
“We are a community. That’s how we live in Kenya,” he said. “If I have a small problem, my brothers and sisters will come in to help me.”
He and other people at the church scour thrift stores, shopping for people who are new to the area.
“They come here. They settle down. They work,” Nzioka said. “Even though they may not be paid a lot, we know how to work hard. We know how to treasure the little that we get.”
Tony Kisivo said he also treasures the sense of community at the church.
“Everybody knows your name, and we interact with each other. If you have a problem, people are there to help you,” he said. “We can feel like we’re back home again.”
The church started with just 15 people in 2004. Now, it has more than 200.
Next month, the Presbyterian Church USA will officially charter the Swahili-English African congregation, the first of its kind in the United States.
“At the end of the day, I say this is the Lord’s doing,” Nzioka said.
Comentarios