Cornwall Wesleyan Church’s French-Creole-Haitian outreach has proved a blessing for both the congregation and the newcomers it serves.
THE CHURCH
Cornwall Wesleyan Church, Cornwall, Ont.
THE CHALLENGE
Connecting with neighbours and helping local newcomers to Canada feel welcomed
THE IDEA
A weekly worship service connecting Haitian newcomers with their faith and other community members
THE COST
The church provides their building for a weekly Sunday afternoon service and other ministry activities at no cost.
Pastor Tim Conrad explains:
Our French-Creole-Haitian outreach started last January. Pastor Larry Blaikie and Pastor Djemps Dormeus connected. We agreed to help with a meeting space. We have a large building – it’s an old school building.
Every week Pastor Dormeus has a service for local Haitians on Sunday afternoons. For us, this is a missional priority. We don’t have much to offer, but we have a building. The real cost is people’s time and energy. A member of our church helps with translating conversations where needed between the two leadership groups. We have others who have given sacrificially to help with transportation and other needs for this congregation.
This outreach comes with the opportunity to bless those who are newcomers and not well established yet in Canada. Our church has taken up love offerings, invited them to some banquets, and we intend to do more of that in the future.
We’re grateful to have support in the Wesleyan Church at the district level helping us to walk alongside the French-Creole-Haitian congregation. This includes logistics help and added discipleship where possible.
If another church were to do something like this, I’d advise there are going to be sacrifices of time and finances for your congregation. Some might be scared, but I’d encourage them not to be. I’d say count the cost and just do it. This is the Church. I’d also warn against doing an outreach like this by yourself. Make sure there’s a few people who can come alongside you in your community. You can’t overcommunicate as well. Choosing to undercommunicate with those you are working with can be costly not just with this outreach, but in any form of ministry.
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