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New Disciples Pastor Helps California Congregation Reconnect With CommunityA little more than a year ago, plenty of folks wondered if First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oakland, Calif., might need to close its doors. The congregation was struggling with dwindling membership, a deteriorating infrastructure and no permanent minister. But that was before 250 Disciples from across the Northern California-Nevada region rolled up their sleeves for a "Miracle Day" event, which was part of the impetus that led to the hiring of a new pastor. "It's really exciting to be at First Christian Church of Oakland, that many people had given up on," said Sandhya Jha, who became the church's pastor in April. "A lot of people over the past 10 years had been saying the church was as good as dead and needed to close its doors." But these days, members of that church are quick to tell you "God's not finished with us yet!" The "Miracle Day" event that preceded Jha's calling, took place in the fall of 2005. People of all ages and cultures turned out to work on repairs at First Christian. That act of giving so inspired church members that the congregation took the next step of finding ways to repair the church's aging roof. Jha, who graduated from divinity and policy school at the University of Chicago last year, realizes that she faces a difficult task to get the church back on its feet. Oakland is beset with the same social problems typically found in other big cities - high crime rates, homelessness and persistent poverty. But she also believes her congregation can play a significant role in reviving the community. According to the church's motto, First Christian of Oakland is "a church for all people." The mixed-income and multiracial congregation worships in an immense structure that was once among the most beautiful large-steeple churches in the United States. Fifty years ago, Sunday services easily drew crowds of at least 400. These days fewer than 20 gather for the Sunday service there. The possibilities, however, for using the church are exciting, said Jha. The building has a sanctuary, two fellowship halls, 15 classrooms and a chapel. First Christian is once again moving closer to its mission of being a church for all people. The building is a hub of activity on Sundays. Two Korean-language congregations -- First Korean Christian Church (DOC)) and Bethel Christian Church (DOC) -- and a Mongolian congregation, First Mongolian Christian Church (DOC), also meet at the facility. While First Christian's Sunday services are taking place at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary, Bethel Christian, which is led by pastor Moon Lee, holds services in the chapel. First Korean, whose pastor is Young In Cho, meets at 1 p.m. Sunday in the chapel, and First Mongolian, pastored by Ogi Luvsan, gathers at 11 a.m. in a classroom. "One of the things that's exciting is the building is just massive," said Jha. "It is primed to connect with a lot of different people. Miracle Day in November of 2005 was a huge turning point for the congregation. " First Christian recently hired a minister of collaborative ventures, whose job it will be to help find ways to maximize use of the building so that it's doing ministry seven days a week, Jha said. "The renovation of the roof has been a really big project. Thanks to a Church Extension bond and a major fundraising effort on our part, the roof is fixed and the building is ready to be better utilized by the community as a means of our being stewards to the community and offering outreach opportunities as well," she said. Jha is the right person to lead First Christian beyond its challenges, said Ben Bohren, regional minister. "She's got the vision, she's got the energy and she's got the brilliance," he said. "She has the ability to work with folks. She is multicultural and multiracial herself so there's a real connect there. She's Asian and three of the congregations are Asian so there's a wonderful link there. She's going to give them, I think, their best hope of revitalizing and transforming their congregation." "The First Christian Church of Oakland building is an absolutely gorgeous building with an inner-city congregation whose membership dwindled over the years and was just not able to look after the building adequately, said Bohren." People had given up hope for FCC Oakland, but fortunately, the "small but mighty" congregation hadn't given up hope in God…or in themselves. Just before Thanksgiving, they named "what FCC Oakland does," and chose to focus on that identity as they determine how to share their gifts of peace in the holy spirit with a young and relatively secular community surrounding the building. They named their identity as:
Jha notes, "This is why our denomination doesn't believe in the cult of the pastor: I could NEVER have created this list, but the priesthood of all believers at FCC Oakland did." The congregation will use this identity to test every potential ministry in the upcoming year: flyers, community events, evangelism efforts and even social justice. "For all of the demands and stresses on the members of our congregation," said Jha. "I really believe there is growing awareness in them that they have something to give to the people around them who are desperate and hungry for meaning and family and peace in the midst of a chaotic, disruptive and violent world." ** By: James Patterson, Freelance writer |