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As a means of celebrating its unity amid cultural diversity, Willingdon Church, in Burnaby, B.C., held three evenings of Celebration Dinners, May 28-30. The decor set the tone, with flags and banners from many nations around the fellowship hall, as well as lights, streamers and flowers. The dinner was served buffet-style, with the chance for each diner to sample eight main dishes, plus two or three types of dessert--each representative of one of the ethnic groups which make up Willingdon Church. The various specialties were prepared by volunteer members of the congregation so as to be as authentic as possible. Willingdon chef, Francisco Alvarenga (Salvadoreno/Canadian), had the awesome task of overseeing the entire operation. In this case, many cooks didn't spoil the broth, but rather enhanced a very tasty dinner.
Each evening featured a worship team from one ethnic group and testimonies from two other groups within the church family; the Pastor's Four was the "English" contribution to the program. Following a brief meditation by senior pastor Carlin Weinhauer regarding what the Bible has to say about "nations", the finale was a slide show, complete with original music and narration, covering the worship experiences of the entire Willingdon Church family. Slides from the church's various missionaries rounded out the international flavour of the evening.
Willingdon's international ministry has really taken off in the last few years. Little by little, various language/cultural groups have been welcomed and incorporated with the English-speaking congregation. The worship services are currently simultaneously translated into five languages by means of interpreters translating and participants using headphones. In an effort to further integrate those who wish to attend the English services but still require translation, offerings were collected each of the three evenings to offset the cost of a wireless translation system. This would allow for greater mobility and choice of seating for those needing translation.
Besides translating the English service, several groups meet for Sunday school and/or a separate worship service in their own language and cultural "flavour". Russian, Spanish, Indonesian, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean and English speakers are currently numbered among the Willingdon family. At various times during the week, all of these groups will have their own worship and/or prayer time together. However, in the past year there has been a concerted effort to look for ways to draw the various groups together while not losing their unique identity or need to relate with their own language and cultural group. To coordinate this effort, the elders formed an International Ministries Committee, composed of elders and pastors who have a heart for this kind of challenge. This group has discovered that the church will have to look for new and creative ways to bridge the differences which exist among the various ethnic groups and to bring them together so as to be truly a "family" which honours the Lord together. The Celebration Dinners were one way to begin that process.
John and Becky Dyck
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