May 18th

Connecting Communities: RJC students visit Calgary Chin Christian Church

From May 2-6 RJC students set out on their Alternative Learning & Service Opportunities (ALSO) week. This time of experiential learning is intended for students to practice the lessons of service, community, and peacebuilding that are taught in the classroom out into the world. This year three groups traveled to Oliver, B.C., Saskatoon, SK, and Calgary, AB.

Part of my own work at RJC involves connecting with MCA churches. Back in 2019 I had the opportunity to attend a worship service Calgary Chin Christian Church (CCCC) during one of my visits to Calgary. It was here that I was first introduced to Peter Sang and Pastor Leng Nawn Thang. In the fall of 2021 Peter was welcomed to the RJC board of directors as the vice moderator of MCA.  As we began to plan for our ALSO trip to Calgary, I thought it might be worth a call to Peter to ask if there would be interest in connecting RJC students with the CCCC youth group.

Peter agreed to help coordinate a gathering, and it was wonderful! We focused on getting to know each other. The evening began with a blessing from Tim Wiebe-Neufeld followed by a delicious meal prepared by the Chin community. It was over the shared meal that the CCCC youth and RJC students bonded and made connections with each other over common interest in sports and music. Following our meal we moved into a time of fellowship. RJC students shared about the different learning opportunities they experienced during their visit to Calgary, and Peter and Leng shared about the Chin history as a church and moving to Canada.  We ended the evening by singing together, both traditional hymns and songs in the Chin language.

By the end of our time together, it felt like we were saying goodbye to family. Youth left hugging each other and sharing contact information to stay in-touch. I am so grateful for the CCCC community, Peter and Leng for making us feel so welcome. It’s my hope that we can continue to develop our relationship and invest in each other’s ministries.