Charities &
Progress Faith SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 • ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
Simon Dhol, right, stands with Kaway Goy in First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea. Dhol is the pastor of South Sudanese services at the church, and Goy is the president of the Sudanese Nuer Christian and Lutheran Church of Minnesota. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
In South Sudanese worship services, everyone can
PLAY A ROLE Leaders aim to create a community where South Sudanese can support each other in their daily lives By Colleen Harrison
colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com
I
t’s a frigid Sunday morning in people. “We do God’s work and we’re Albert Lea, and while an im- here to worship God, and everything pending snowstorm has kept we do in life together.” away some churchgoers, singGoy, 39, moved to Albert Lea in ing can still be heard coming 2003. Dhol, 46, moved to the area in from a lower level room of First 2010. Both hailing from Upper Nile, Presbyterian Church. South Sudan, Goy and Dhol are now A group of about two dozen South both United States citizens. Sudanese community members sing Both men said it’s important for along in a worship song, sung in their their community to support each native Nuer language. Some read other as they navigate their lives. from pamphlets or books, while Keeping loyal to their faith helps others know the song by heart. them remember right from wrong, Each week, the Rev. Simon Dhol and also helps them pass on their is a part of leading South Sudanese culture to the next generations. church services at First Presbyte“We want to keep a community, a rian. While he is a pastor, the roles united community,” Dhol said. in South Sudanese worship services The local South Sudanese commuare shared among worshippers. nity does not have the resources to “We want everyone to play a role,” buy its own building for worship, but he said. has been lucky to be able to use space One woman reads from the Bible, at both Zion Lutheran Church and before the room breaks into song. First Presbyterian for free. Services Then a man comes up and talks to the at Zion started in 2003, with First congregation, before Presbyterian services there’s more singing, starting in 2011. and eventually Dhol “Without them, we stands up in front of wouldn’t have a serhis congregation. vice. We wouldn’t have The shared efforts a home,” Goy said. are a custom for Dhol said he has South Sudanese, Dhol always felt God’s callsaid, and the service ing, which in part led resembles ones they him to getting his bachattended back home — Simon Dohl elor’s degree through a growing up. seminary to be a pastor. One of the other speakers at the “All people, God calls them,” he service is Kaway Goy, a fellow said, going on to say he has long had member of the local South Sudanese a strong feeling inside of him leading community, president of the Suda- him to help others. nese Nuer Christian and Lutheran Dhol has helped lead efforts to Church of Minnesota, and Dhol’s collect money to send to congregasecond cousin. tion relatives still in South Sudan, About once every two months the and to send clothes and bring mediregional South Sudanese population cine while on missionary trips back, — from as far north as St. Cloud and where he has helped build churches as far west as Mankato — meets to and helped lay piping for villagers worship together and to celebrate to access clean water. Churchgoers their community. have also raised money for mem“We’ve been Christians a long time, bers locally who might be going we know God is the most important See ROLE, Page 2 thing,” Goy said of South Sudanese
“We want to keep a community, a united community.”
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Movers and shakers
A new space
‘Called to heal a broken world’
A new life
Meet three Albert Lea nonprofit leaders making a difference. Page 3
First Lutheran Church youth room moved, renovated for use. Page 4
United Methodist pastor serves as chaplain for local law enforcement. Page 4
Zion Karen Baptist Church now owns its building on Clark Street. Page 6
PAGE 2 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2019 | CHARITIES & FAITH | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019
ROLE Continued from Front Page
through tough times. “We don’t want our people to be burdened,” Goy said. “We don’t want our kids to be us, we want them to be better.” “Life, death, we’re there,” Dhol said. The congregation’s efforts have also inspired others from outside of the South Sudanese community to help. Sewing groups have donated blankets and clothing for Dhol to take back with him on visits home. The two men said they’re often brought back to the fighting and violence in their home country. There is currently an ongoing civil war in South Sudan between the government and opposition forces, one that has taken a number of family members away from refugees now in Albert Lea. While they said they pray for their family and friends still in South Sudan, and for a way for peace to reach their homeland, both Goy and Dhol said they’re happy to now call Albert Lea home. Simon Dhol has been leading South Sudanese church services at First Presbyterian Church since 2011. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE “It seems like Albert Lea is a good place to raise a this world than God and part of the community,” Dhol said. “That’s what we family,” Goy said. “There’s family.” “We want to be seen as try to show to others here.” nothing more important in
By the numbers
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Dhol leads a Sunday church service in late January at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea.
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The local South Sudanese church-going community meets weekly for worship services, either at Zion Lutheran Church or at First Presbyterian Church. About every two months, there is a regional worship that South Sudanese community members from as far as St. Cloud attend in Albert Lea.
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We are a fellowship of believers in Christ, sustained by God’s Word, led by the Holy Spirit and committed to God’s vision of caring!
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Albert Lea Assembly of God Sunday: 8:45 a.m. - Adult Sunday School 10:00 a.m. - Worship (Nursery Provided) 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Children’s Church 6:00 p.m. - Prayer Service Wednesday 5:30 p.m. - Supper served $2 each Family Night: 6:30 p.m. - Adult Bible Study, Repurpose Youth Group & SuperKidz 4 Jesus
Pastor Ryan Quigley 1540 South Shore Dr. (507) 373-7989 Albert Lea, MN
Inviting people to actively participate in the life of Jesus
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Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Pastor: Michael Lilienthal 320 W. College Albert Lea, MN 373-6097 Sunday worship: 9:00 a.m. Sunday School: 10:15 a.m. www.oursaviorsels.com
United Methodist Church
Albert Lea The Salvation Army Sundays: 9:45am - Sunday School 11am - Worship Service 302 Court Street, Albert Lea (507)373-8776
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 | CHARITIES & FAITH | PROGRESS 2019 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 3
ALBERT LEA NONPROFIT
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
ANN AUSTIN
SHANE KOEPKE
Age: 39
Age: 41
Family: Husband, Nick; daughters Elise, 6, and Aila, 3
Family: Janelle (spouse), children Brecken, 12, and Evelyn, 9
How long you have lived in Albert Lea. What brought you here?: Fifteen years. I moved down here when I married Nick.
How long you have lived in Albert Lea? What brought you here?: Since 2016. Name of nonprofit you lead: Grace Lutheran Church.
Name of nonprofit you lead: United Way of Freeborn County.
Describe some of the priorities of your organization: Our mission statement is “Bringing people together and becoming disciples for Christ.” This falls in line with my personal theology that God made us to be present and serve God by serving one another.
Describe some of the priorities of your organization?: Our mission is “Uniting people and resources to improve lives.” United Way Worldwide identified three focus areas in 2008: education, income and health. The focus has remained much the same, except for income — which has become more about financial stability, especially after the Great Recession occurred. Our priority is to continue supporting local programs, which operate within Freeborn County, and work in partnership with other groups to address community issues of concern — recent focus has been the need for more child care services.
Why do you have a passion for this organization?: I love Grace because they want to serve others and they do that first by listening and paying attention to the world around them. The work that we do is collective and wonderful. We worship together, we make blankets and health kits that are sent all over the world, we helped start the Food for Backpacks program that, with the cooperation of lots of churches, serves over 300 youth each weekend. I love the fact that they don’t just want to be the church on Sunday morning, but they want to be the church beyond the walls of the building.
Why do you have a passion for this organization: I was hired at the start of the “Community Impact” movement in August 2008. Though we didn’t quite know how to define what this meant for our community, I was inspired by the board’s vision to address deeper issues in our community. Throughout my life, I’ve been concerned about the degradation of the environment and issues such as poverty, hunger and homelessness. I believed this was the greatest opportunity for me to make a positive difference. I have worked for many different systems and recognize there are benefits and disadvantages to being part of a large organization. However, I have been continually impressed with the vision, passion and dedication of United Way leaders across Minnesota and the nation. We also have had the most wonderful volunteers serve on our board — they truly care about Freeborn County and are invested in creating a better community. They have continued to inspire me on this journey. What are some of your goals for your organization in the next year? United Way, along with many other nonprofits, is going through some big shifts with how we operate and what sustainability looks like. We have adapted in small ways to have more of an online presence, but will need to continue this push. We’ve discussed on the local level how our events/
What are some of your goals for your organization in the next year? Grace continues to strive to be a place for the community. This March we are adding a second Sunday worship service (9 and 11 a.m.) to give people more flexibility for that primary part of church: worship. This next year is a year of engagement with our people, of telling our story and listening to the stories of our community. It’s only by starting at this relational level can we truly serve one another. We are excited to hear where God is calling us next! outreach will function in the community. It is so essential for there to be meaning in what we are doing. Overall, a sense of community and meaning in this See AUSTIN, Page 6
What are your favorite things about the community? Our family loves Albert Lea. We were welcomed so generously by our neighbors and made new friends quickly. It’s a great size town and has given us opportunities to be involved in activities (Albert Lea Story Show, Wind Down Wednesday, Albert Lea fishing
club, dance at Meraki). We love winter activities like sledding behind Lakeview Elementary, bike rides around the lake in the summer, fishing year-round and kayaking Fountain Lake. Can you tell we like Minnesota lake living?
CELEBRATING 32 YEARS IN BUSINESS
SANDY HUNT Age: A few years away from retirement. Family: I am single, but I have “family” all around the world! How long you have lived in Albert Lea. What brought you here?: I have been in Albert Lea since the beginning of July 2017. The Salvation Army sent me here. Name of nonprofit you lead: The Salvation Army of Albert Lea. Describe some of the priorities of your organization: Our mission is to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs without discrimination. We do this by showing God’s love to those we meet through our words and actions. Why do you have a passion for this organization?: When I first became involved with the Salvation Army, I saw regular people involved in helping people, not just pastors or paid professionals. I thought that this was something that I would like to be involved with. I saw that to receive help it did not matter your ethnicity, ancestry, your religious beliefs or unbelief, etc., but that a person needed help and they were being shown God’s love through the help they received. Also, the Salvation Army is egalitarian, and there have been three women generals that have led the worldwide Salvation Army. What are some of your goals for your organization in the next year? To increase participation by at least 10 more families in our Pathway of Hope program. To find additional funding sources to be able to continue to meet the emergency services needs of our community at the same level we were able to in 2018. To increase participation in our after-school activities and other programs and activities for men and women. are friendly. It is a safe community. It is What are your favorite things about the dark and quiet at night, community? except for when the train I lived in Chicago before coming to goes by. The surrounding lakes are scenic. Albert Lea. So, there are many things I And, being on the crossroads of two major appreciate about this community! The interstates allows for easy commutes to first thing I noticed was that the people other beautiful areas of Minnesota.
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PAGE 4 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2019 | CHARITIES & FAITH | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019
‘Called to heal a broken world’
By Sam Wilmes
sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com
The Rev. John Mitchem’s typical week includes 50 to 55 hours of work at United Methodist Church. In addition to his duties at the church — including leading weekly services — Mitchem is a volunteer chaplain with the Albert Lea Police Department and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, assisting officers after stressful situations. Mitchem, senior pastor at United Methodist Church, was appointed by the Methodist Church to serve in Albert Lea in July 2015. Two months after he began at the church, Mitchem became chaplain. “We as pastors try to find a way that we can make a powerful difference in our community,” he said. “We believe we are called to heal our neighbor and help heal a broken world.” At the church, Mitchem leads worship services at 9 and 10:45 a.m. Sundays at United Methodist. He also officiates wedding, funeral and baptism services and is responsible for implementing the church’s mission. As a chaplain who responds to about 30 incidents a year, Mitchem gives death notices to families of the deceased. “You never want me and an officer to arrive when you have called, because we are there to give a death notification, that somebody that you loved and (cared for) has passed away,” Mitchem said. “I give news on the worst day of someone’s life.” To Mitchem, no two situations he deals with as chaplain are alike. He stressed the importance of verifying the correct house and telling people who knew the victim in a way that is direct and clear while being empathetic and caring. He said the incidents he responds to with officers
range from deaths from medical emergencies to suicides. “Regardless if you have a faith background or not, a chaplain is there to serve the families in those issues,” Mitchem said. “I’m kind of the expert in how that whole process works — how you call the funeral home, what is the coroner going to ask, what do we need for the coroner?” A Columbus, Ohio, native, Mitchem, 54, served at two churches in Colorado before moving to Hastings for eight years. He then relocated to Sleepy Eye and then Albert Lea. “I serve at the pleasure of the bishop, which means I can be moved at the pleasure of the bishop,” he said. To Mitchem, his calling is to help people. “We are called to help heal our neighbors,” he said. Mitchem is helping fulfill his mission. The church is involved with the backpack program at Southwest Middle School and supports Semcac The Rev. John Mitchem is devoting 50 to 55 hours a week to United Methodist Church while helping law enforcement recover from stressful situations. SAM WILMES/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE and the Salvation Army. Mitchem described how Jesus Christ has motivated him. “The grace that God has shown me for the failures that I have done in my life, that he still calls me to love my brothers and sisters,” he said. “I want them to say that God loves and cares for Year the Rev. John them. I believe that God loves and cares for people Mitchem began at United Methodist Church in this world.” Mitchem attended college at Ohio State University and seminary school in Kansas City, Missouri. He said his favorite part Average weekly attenof being a pastor is “letting dance at church services people know that they are loved and cared for.” Albert Lea Police Department Deputy Chief Darren Hanson noted Mitchem is Estimated calls Mitchem the first chaplain he rememresponds to as a chaplain bers, adding Mitchem helps every year families make arrangements after fires and other traumatic situations and is “I really couldn’t ask any receptive to requests for his more than what John has United Methodist Church is at 702 U.S. Highway 69. services at all times. provided,” Hanson said.
By the numbers
2015 165 30
First Lutheran Church youth room moved, renovated for use By Tyler Julson
tyler.julson@albertleatribune.com
Members of the youth group at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea were in a pickle when they learned their youth room was going to be taken and used as part of the new preschool at the church. The group needed to find a new space to congregate for their Wednesday night youth groups. Luckily, there were three rooms above the old room that were available to be remodeled and converted into a new and improved youth room. What started out as three small classrooms became one large youth room complete with a kitchen, dining and table top area, ping pong table, couches, bean bags and a projector screen. After taking down a few walls, putting in new flooring and a fresh paint job, the new room was ready for use starting in November. On top of the room being used as the new youth room, youth director Jordan Winter said it can be used by other people and groups as well. “We’re open to the idea of it being used for other stuff, too,” Winter said. “That was part of what we wanted when we created the space. We wanted to make it very functional and even movable in that people could use it for other things, too.” The new space also came with an upgrade in area — the old room measured right around 1,000 square feet, while the new room comes in just over 1,200 square feet. Although the old room had the couches, projector screen and ping pong table, the added space allowed them to add what has become the children’s favorite part: the kitchen. “We did not have a kitchen when we were downstairs,” Winter said. “Moving up here, knowing we were going to be two floors away from a usable kitchen, I said we need to have something up here — at least a usable oven and a fridge. “They’ve spent more time on that end of the room (the kitchen), than they
Jordan Winter, youth director at First Lutheran Church, has been with the church for 10 years. He went to Luther College and majored in business management. TYLER JULSON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
The youth room was moved upstairs into a slightly bigger space when the old room was needed for a new preschool at the church. have over here (the lounge area). Even knowing that we don’t have to go down to the pop machines to get a pop, we have them right here in the fridge, has been pretty great.” Winter said the average number of youth who show up each week is somewhere between 10 and 12. He said it can be hit and miss with a lot of them having other responsibilities like school, work and sports, but for
the most part there’s usually a good number of high schoolers that come each week. Every year, the youth group takes a ministry trip to different parts of the U.S. Last summer, 18 children went to Houston to take part in the ELCA Youth Gathering, where they got to meet and interact with over 30,000 other Lutheran youth who attended the event. This
The most popular item in the new youth room is the fully furnished kitchen, complete with an oven, stove, mirowave, refridgerator and plenty of cupboard space. summer, Winter plans to take a group to Colorado for an overnight backpacking adventure. The youth group helps out in the local community as well, lending time to some
of the other charitable organizations at the church and tending a garden over the summer, from which they donate all of their produce. “The best part is being able to build relationships
with these high school kids,” Winter said. “To walk alongside them in their faith journey, to see them starting to get it a little bit is the most rewarding part.”
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 | CHARITIES & FAITH | PROGRESS 2019 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 5
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PAGE 6 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2019 | CHARITIES & FAITH | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019
A NEW BEGINNING
Karen church gives building same purpose but different congregation By Sarah Kocher
sarah.kocher@albertleatribune.com
The Zion Karen Baptist Church found its home by moving out of a house. That’s where it was in the beginning, when four families began worshipping together in 2012, said Sa Ba Taw, assistant pastor. At its start, it was Albert Lea Karen Baptist Church. Zion came later. Now, the congregation is between 150 to 200 strong. “The church’s (main) purpose is to enable many of the immigrant families who do not speak and know English to have a place to gather as followers of Christ and worship God,” Taw said. The church’s growth has mirrored the growth of the Karen population in Albert Lea. “The Karen community in Albert Lea I see as vibrant,” he said. Taw said many Karen citizens who move to Albert Lea either come to join family members or to get a job — many at Select Foods. Many come from the Twin Cities area, he said. Taw himself moved to Albert Lea from St. Paul in 2012, and joined the congregation then. When the church gathered more families in 2013 and 2014, it moved. “There were more families coming, you know?” Taw said. “So they — we — have more people. So, the place they used to worship at their house doesn’t work for them, so they (were) looking for space.” That space came in the form of a mobile home Taw said the church purchased for $5,000. “They just (used) it for a place to worship,” he said. Taw was the youth leader in the mobile home before he moved to Elgin, Illinois, to attend Judson University, an evangelical Christian liberal arts institution where he received his undergraduate degree in Christian ministry. He returned to Albert Lea and accepted the role as assistant pastor.
‘He answered our prayer’
On Jan. 27 — a Sunday morning — winter coats in stoic winter colors open to pepper the pews of Zion Karen Baptist Church in brighter hues. There are usually more than the just under 100 in attendance, Taw said, but he suspected weather kept some away. The sanctuary’s slanted floor leads down to a stage, behind which a choir loft is populated only with crowded chairs. The worship space is punctuated in touches of dark wood, from the beams running around the perimeter of the room to the pews themselves. It was the youth ministry’s turn to lead the service. Several groupings of children and young adults trade off microphones, singing and worshipping in Karen. As Taw, in a sky blue shirt with darker tie underneath a traditional Karen shirt, gave the sermon, he tapped an orange pen against the open Bible in his hand for emphasis. All through the service, the undercurrent of young voices and moving feet provides a steady, quiet rumble of activity and life to the building. That building is the former First Baptist Church, still emblazoned
AUSTIN Continued from Page 3
work is greatly needed at this time. We must be intentional with how this will look/feel/function moving forward. What are your favorite things about the community? The green space. I really love what Joe Grossman (superintendent of the Parks Department for the city of Albert Lea) and his team have done to introduce native plants around the community. More needs to be done to ensure
Two girls dance along to a song riddled with electric guitar and a catchy drum beat, the backing track to music performed by six congregants at Zion Karen Baptist Church Jan. 27. SARAH KOCHER/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
“As a church here, we’re just praying for them, and that they will continue to grow and reach people for Christ, because that’s ultimately what it’s all about.” — The Rev. Clayton Balsley with the AZ-One Community Center name. Before moving into the building on Clark Street, the mobile home had between 50 to 70 people worshipping there. “When the numbers kept growing, we (didn’t) have enough space in the parking space, so we pray, you know, for God to provide us a new space and then later, he answered our prayer and we were all invited by our First Baptist Church .. the Senior Pastor Clayton Balsley to worship every Sunday here,” Taw said. Balsley, now senior pastor at Bridge Community Church, said he would give messages to the church, translated through Taw, at Zion Karen Baptist Church when it was still located in the mobile home. He said the church approached him about using the First Baptist Church building for worship. Zion Karen Baptist Church offered to meet after services for First Baptist were over — their service is still set later in the day, with a 12:30 p.m. start. But that fall, First Baptist Church had already made the decision to no longer have worship at that building as it moved toward a combination with Calvary Baptist Church. Balsley said it was a “natural fit” for the fledgling church to take over the building. “We want to build God’s
kingdom, and obviously, there’s a whole group of citizens here in our community that need a church,” Balsley said. “We kind of see it as a local mission for us. That’s how we kind of looked at it from day one.” When First Baptist Church joined with Bridge Community Church, the building itself traded hands. First shift, First Baptist Church. Second shift, Zion Karen Baptist Church. They never put the building up for sale, Balsley said. “We knew they were, as time went on, they were kind of looking for a place, so we talked to them about if they wanted to take over,” he said. Balsley said the building price would have been close to $400,000, but they cut the price almost in half, to over $200,000. Since the closing in October, he said he has been helping the church work through what it means to take care of the building. He still drops in on services occasionally. “It is as a blessing for us Karen to receive this opportunity and this place, this building, because if we have to buy for the original price ... it is very expensive,” Taw said. “But it is a blessing.” Zion Karen Baptist Church closed on the building in 2018.
we adapt to the increased rain/flooding events. It would be really cool to see a big tree planted where the water tower now stands. We could decorate it during the holidays and celebrate the beauty of this community — there could be a tree-lighting ceremony as well. Though a lot of great work has been done, there is more to do — and there are areas around town that have been neglected, which we need to focus some love and attention on. I love the passion of local business owners like Gerry Vogt of Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen, Tony Hill of Hill’s Gardens, Amber McCornack of
Heartwaves Studio, Holly Karsjens of The Meraki Studios and Kim Olson of Grandma’s Gourmets — they are the driving force for what our future will look like. And I love all of the people I have met through this work — people like Garry Hart (Cedar Valley Services) who work quietly to improve conditions, and community leaders like Dave Mullenbach (former county commissioner) and Corrine Tims (former Hawthorne principal) who still are so committed, even in retirement. They inspired me to engage in a leadership role — and I aspire to continue their legacy.
Congregation members at Zion Karen Baptist Church sing along to a hymn Jan. 27 with music either in books or on their phones. “It is our church,” Taw said. “... Later, we decided, you know, we would need to put a sign, ‘Bought,’ saying, ‘Karen Baptist Church.’”
‘It’s our own now’
The community connection continues past the church building. Bridge Community Church offers up property for Karen families, many of which Taw said come from an agricultural lifestyle, to garden on. “They want our Karen families, you know, to use the space for growing plants, vegetables,” Taw said. Karen families who would like to garden can do so, free, by speaking with a Zion Karen Baptist Church leader about how much space they need. Balsley said he wants to see more of a relationship build between the two congregations. “That’s something in the future I’d like to see us do: more interacting,” he said. But Zion Karen Baptist Church tries to provide
more for its community members than gardens. After all, Taw said, it exists “to serve the local community by engaging, encouraging and enriching the Karen people who live in Albert Lea by introducing and directing a life-changing Christian journey.” That is one of the church goals. So at the church, now given new life by the Karen Baptist community, the Karen population can receive the ministry of tax return help, specifically for those who don’t speak English, Taw said. Then there’s ministry in the forms of help with car insurance, applying for citizenship, dealing with Social Security, applying for food assistance and deciphering government mailings and medical documents. “If they can come here, we will help them,” Taw said. Now that the church building belongs to them, Zion Karen Baptist Church members can use
the building for more than they did when they were borrowing it, said church member Bway Shee. “After we purchased this church, it’s our own now,” Shee said. Therefore, those who need to practice for Sunday’s service can come on Saturday. She sees still more potential with the building. “Now that we have a place, we can invite other churches to have a fellowship,” Shee said. During the service itself on Sunday, different ministries rotate through leading worship. One Sunday may be the women’s ministry, the next elders, then children, then youth, Taw said. “It’s kind of different than other churches,” Taw said. Before service is Sunday school for the children’s ministry. “Our congregation is growing not just because of the church members, but because of the children,” Taw said. He estimates the congregation has 30 to 40 children. It’s in this segment of the population Taw has hopes for the church. His hope is “for the next generation to grow up and help them maintain their identity — which is in Christ and their language, their cultures — and to keep this church and to keep this space and to keep helping the community and to have a relationship with people who live in this community and support whoever needs help,” he said. Balsley said Bridge Community Church continues to pray for the Zion Karen Baptist Church congregation. “As a church here, we’re just praying for them, and that they will continue to grow and reach people for Christ, because that’s ultimately what it’s all about,” he said. “And obviously, the mission field is all over, whether it’s with the Karen or here in the community … (we) pray that God will use them in a powerful way here.” And as his church grows, Taw said it is now in a building he believes can accommodate that. “For me personally, I feel like it is a blessing, huge blessing for me,” Taw said. “I think for other people as well, because before we (moved), we keep praying to see where, you know, God will lead us, and then he answered our prayer. So, he (gave) us this place, so it is amazing and astonishing to see what God did for our Karen people here.” From that space, the church intends to exist as a place for Karen families to receive the support they need to build a strong Christian home and be a good example for others, Taw said. It’s written into the church objectives. “So here in Albert Lea, we can live and speak freely in our Karen language and worship God openly in Zion Baptist Church,” Taw said.
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