Churches in the Southern California Conference worship in 31 languages, so celebrating cultural diversity holds a favored spot on most church calendars in the area. In two local churches early this spring, international day celebrations were both joyful and richly diverse in program details.

Homecoming

The “Sixth Annual International Homecoming” at the Lancaster Church conveyed the message of inclusiveness. Young people serving as flagbearers paraded in from each side of the sanctuary carrying flags of other countries to represent as many countries as possible in the program.

Children of the Antelope Valley Adventist School sang in both English and Spanish. A Tongan trio from Canoga Park also provided special music. The “Hands of Praise” sign language ministry provided an afternoon concert. One woman, wearing a dress that fit in well with the day’s multicultural theme, admitted, “I have no idea what country this dress might be from. I was adopted, but I wanted to be part of the celebration!”

Speaker Paul Siope, associate pastor of Polynesian ministry of the Hollywood Church and pastor of a church plant in Bellflower, spoke on Jonah’s experience, citing Jonah 1:8, that highlights the importance of national origins, “Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?" while affirming the identity believers have in common, “He said to them, 'I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land' (vs. 9). Walter and Essie Penniman coordinated the day’s events, which concluded with an evening international supper.

International Day

An “International Fellowship Day” at the Altadena Church celebrated multicultural diversity by inviting community residents representing nationalities not reflected in the church membership to wear their national costumes and carry the flags of their homelands in the church’s processional.

Pastor Lawrence S. Dorsey set the tone for the day by referring to Matthew 28:19-20: “We are commissioned as Christians to ‘Teach all nations,’ and we are here in our community from many countries, worshiping in the church."

Pastor Jason McCracken, Message Magazine representative and a trilingual soulwinner who has baptized more than 2,000 people, gave a spirited worship-hour message. McCracken’s cousin, Michael Wilson, pastor of the nearby Grace Community Bible Church, greeted the congregation and introduced the speaker.

In the Altadena celebration, the program featured a second processional in addition to a flag processional displaying the flags of many countries. The second honored a contingent of firefighters from Pasadena and Los Angeles County divisions. Dorsey presented plaques to the nine men, saying, “Our firefighters risk their lives for us. They represent the very epitome of the spirit of firefighters the world over. It is with great pleasure that we acknowledge them today.” Sybil Cross, Ph.D., coordinated the program.