In its former life as the Calvary United Methodist Church, the squat brick building at 201 E. Molloy Road in Mattydale only saw visitors on Sundays. Now, its new incarnation — the Path of Life Mission Center — sees people coming and going every day of the week.
Last summer, the Brewerton United Methodist Church purchased the former Calvary Church from the Upper New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Path of Life is now home to two post-refugee congregations, AA meetings, a clothing closet for those in need and more. Needless to say, Path of Life’s building calendar is pretty full.
“It’s a lovely problem to have,” said Jack Keating, the pastor at the Brewerton UMC.
Among the groups vying for space at Path of Life are New World Ministries, a congregation of people from various African countries and New Hope and Good News Ministry, which consists of Karenni people originally from Myanmar.
At their previous home of Andrews Memorial UMC in North Syracuse, Sean Chanthasone’s Karenni group posted a flier advertising a home Bible study session, and 60 people showed up. It was clear that the Karenni congregants — and their African counterparts — had outgrown their host church. In late November 2013, New World Ministries moved into Path of Life. Just a few weeks ago, New Hope and Good News Ministry followed.
Aaron Limmo, a Sudanese Methodist minister, juggles multiple languages and cultures for his congregation. With worshipers of Sudanese, Ethiopian and Congolese extraction, New World Ministries posts signs and holds Sunday afternoon services in Arabic, English and many other languages.
Path of Life features a new computer lab for New World students to get homework help, practice their technology skills and learn English.
“For families … English is difficult. It is a third or fourth language for some,” Limmo said.
Keating said Limmo isn’t just a pastor — he’s a “mission developer,” caring for his congregation outside of their Sundays by taking them to doctor’s appointments, helping them access social services and showing them how to acclimate to American society.
“That’s why we call it New World Ministries, because we’re new to the country,” Limmo said.
With an influx of African immigrants who eventually move on from the Central New York area, Limmo’s congregation experiences a lot of turnover. Despite that, he tries to maintain a sanctuary for those in his faith, especially for those who have suffered through war, as in his home country of Sudan.
“The refugees need consolation. When you come to the worship, sometimes it is too hard: you see some of your people and what they’ve gone through,” Limmo said. “God is not a God of [one] language. He listens to every human being.”
More than a year after it began its new purpose, Path of Life Mission Center is bustling, though Limmo and Keating said they need help to continue their mission. The center is looking for volunteers to teach English to the post-refugee communities. Anyone who is interested in volunteering can call Keating at the Brewerton UMC at 668-3999.
“If you want to make a difference, you’re welcome to,” Limmo said.
