"Mom, we need to try that church!" Joshua Bisengo encouraged his mom, Mulisa Bisengo, to bring them to North Chevy Chase Christian Church (NC4) in Chevy Chase, Md. The family had passed by the church and decided to visit while out on a walk. The first Sunday they visited, Joshua (a fifth grader) and Diana (a high school junior) were welcomed into the youth activities and the relationship was off and running. In December of 2005, Mulisa, Diana, and Joshua, plus Mulisa's younger sisters, Rachel and Agaba, joined the NC4 family.

Refugees and survivors of genocide experiences, the Rwandan community in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (of which Mulisa and her family are a part) have been meeting in a private home for the past 15 years for prayer and Bible study. Occasionally, the community would have a visiting preacher who would lead them in worship in their native language of Kinyarwanda, but they have longed to have a place to meet on a regular basis. The relationship between the Rwandan community and NC4 has grown as they share fellowship events, worship and special meals together. At Thanksgiving 2006, the Rwandans shared the annual Thanksgiving meal and offered native dances and songs.

A highlight of 2006 for the Rwandan community was their New Year's Eve celebration held in NC4's Harlow Hall. Joining the celebration were more than 200 Rwandans from as far away as Canada. The event was a benchmark for the Rwandan youth's newly formed organization, RINA (Rwandan International Networking Association), as they hosted both the exiled King of Rwanda, King Kigeli V. Ndahindurwa, and the Rwandan ambassador, Dr. Zac Nsenga. This event marked the first time in 46 years that the King and an ambassador had been present together at an event. In April 2007, on the 13th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide, the community hosted a "Weekend of Remembrance" with a presentation of the FRONTLINE documentary, "Ghosts of Rwanda," followed by a worship service of healing.

The congregation is now under the leadership of their newly called pastor, Tito R. Harera, who has pastored churches in Rwanda and who has also served on several human rights committees and councils in Africa. Pastor Harera is committed to reaching out to bring the Rwandan community into a reconciling and healing community. The congregation, Inkurunziza Evangelical Church, and Pastor Tito have begun the process of affiliating with the Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) in the Capital Area Region.

As minister of North Chevy Chase Christian Church it has been my privilege to watch this relationship unfold. The opportunities we have had in sharing fellowship and worship have been opportunities of blessing and growth, and I am excited about the prospects for the Rwandan congregation's affiliation with the Christian Church.

The Rev. Dr. Cheryl L. Tatham is the minister of North Chevy Chase Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Chevy Chase, Md.