Connecticut Post, Feb 28, 2004. Joseph Pronechen

Church with a world view

Silliman Baptist has international flavor

In the last 93 years, Silliman Baptist Church in Bridgeport has moved forward in many respects. At the same time, it’s come full circle in one major way.

      The church was founded to serve immigrants from Hungary and today it serves a congregation made up in large part by new immigrants from 13 countries.

      The church’s pastor, the Rev. Joseph Delahunt, said that the church grew out of the First Baptist Church in Bridgeport. After the Hungarian immigrants gathered in home meetings, the First Baptist pastor at that time supported and encouraged them to start their own congregation.

      In 1911 the Hungarians constructed a church in the city’s West End, where they had settled. Today the original building is being used as the church’s office building.

      In 1915 the congregation built the main church building that faces Fairfield Avenue.

      The church got its name from a key donor. Ezra Silliman was a deacon at First Baptist and donated a whole block of land to the organization named the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut. The group and Silliman's widow agreed the new church would be an appropriate use of the land.

      "They held services in Hungarian until 1954." said Delahunt. "Then they made one of the biggest transitions in the history of the church."

      Services were changed to Hungarian-English, then to all English shortly after.

      The l960s brought another big transition. "The second major shift they made was when they had to move beyond their national and ethnic boundaries and reach out to the neighborhood," said Delahunt.

      "The church has adapted to its new urban setting," he said, pointing out that half of today’s congregation comes from countries such as Jamaica, Haiti, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Kenya, and India.

      The rest are Caucasians, some from the old Hungarian families, African Americans, and Hispanics.

      Violet Berglund went through each stage. "I’ve been in the church since I was conceived," she said. The family’s history goes back to Berglund’s grandmother. All of her 10 children attended Silliman Memorial.

      "It’s a very harmonious church," Berglund said. "We all work together. We all have a strong faith in

the Lord.." She firmly believes that "the Lord has a purpose for the church."

      Nelson Ngoh was drawn to the church because "it has the same style of worship we have in Baptist churches in Cameroon," he said.

      Ngoh also finds a concern for one another. "Everyone was there for me when my wife was ill and passed away" he said. Ngoh said the church’s Wednesday night prayer meeting was moved to his house during his wife’s illness. "The pastor visited every day in my house and in the hospital," he said.

      Today’s programs reach out to members and the community at large. "We’re big supporters of the Bridgeport Rescue Mission," said Delahunt. The missions last two graduations were held at Silliman Memorial, and the church leads worship services at the mission regularly.

      "And we collaborate with Young Life, a new ministry in Bridgeport," he added. "They basically want to share with kids that God has a plan and a future for them. My wife LaRee many years ago came to the Christian faith through that [national] ministry."

      Another important way the church reaches youngsters is through the Angel Tree at Christmas.

The church collects and wraps presents "for kids whose parents are incarcerated so they can have a Christmas," said Delahunt.

      This project is done in collaboration with Progressive Training in Bridgeport that works with Prison Fellowship.

      Until recently, the church was also involved with Project Learn, but left without grant funding and a director, the program is dormant. still, the pastor is "hoping to get it going."

      There’s "no separation of faith and life," the pastor said, explaining the reasons for such programs as Project Learn and working with Bridgeport Rescue Mission to "help people who are trying to get their lives together."

      Marie Leclerc, a 12-year member of the church, is involved with the outreach committee and "goes to Marina Village with the Rescue Mission to serve meals and minister to the people," she said.

      For Leclerc, one of the best things about Silliman Memorial "is the family atmosphere," she said. "Its very caring. You feel welcome."

      With such a diverse congregation, the church is launching a series of international nights. The first one will be an Indian night today at 5:30 p.m. People from India will share their food, culture, and worship music with those attending.

      The same will happen on the Jamaica, Haitian, African, and Euro-American nights, among others.

      "That’s one of the big challenges of a church like this," said the pastor, referring to the diversity of members. "It’s a wonderful strength for the church, but it also takes effort to cross cultural values."

      Whether it’s outreach within the church or to the community everything flows out of the spiritual, he said, since there’s "no real dividing line between the spiritual and the social because God wants to transform every aspect of our life."

      One such event will March 8, when a sacred music concert will take place. The 35-member Jubilate Choir from the University Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Va., will present a concert of classical, gospel, and folk music.

      For a small congregation, there’s a lot going on. The Sunday school is for all ages, not just children. A Wednesday night series is currently examining what it means to be a disciple. There’s a youth group for teens.

      There are three choirs: a traditional youth choir, an adult choir, and a contemporary worship team.

      Delahunt is also starting a Sunday Bible study group for young adults. "Lots of times we have a Sunday afternoon teaching series," he adds, "like a New Testament overview."

      Future goals include developing community outreach programs that would involve spiritual as well as hands-on help. Currently Silliman has a task force working with all the church committees to find the best way to incorporate all congregants into some form of service.

               Connecticut Post, Feb 28, 2004. Joseph Pronechen