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  • >Barrhead Church celebrates Africa Day

Barrhead Church celebrates Africa Day

Published on 9 June 2023

Vibrant sights and sounds from Africa thrilled a Renfrewshire church congregation in a special service of celebration.

Africa Day Service At Barrhead St Andrew's
Malison Ndau (Malawi), Abiola Badru, Bucola Badru, Olabisi Sobowale and Busola Badru (all from Nigeria) were all actively involved in the service.

Worshippers originally from Nigeria, Malawi and Zambia brought the sights and sounds of their homelands to Sunday service at Barrhead St Andrew's in a joint celebration of Pentecost and Africa Day.

Barrhead St Andrew's minister Rev Tim Mineard explained: "We have had a number of African families coming to worship with us over the past few years, and wanted to do something to make them feel more welcome.

Africa Day Service At Barrhead
Bucola Badru, Olabisi Sobowale, Abiola Badru and Ebby Sijumila leading the Africa Day service.
Malison Ndau
Former Malawian government minister and Barrhead St Andrew's elder Rev Malison Ndau gave the sermon.

"We noticed it was Africa Day on May 25th, so decided to hold an African themed service the following Sunday, with everyone invited to wear as bright clothes as possible. We had a planning meeting with all the Africans in the church and got them all involved."

This included reciting the Lord's Prayer in Yoruba, one of Nigeria's main languages, a song in Bemba from Zambian member Ebby Sijumila, testimony from Olabisi Sobowale from Nigeria, Bible readings and even dancing to Christian music from Africa.

"We were also privileged to have Malison Ndau preaching for us," Mr Mineard added.

"Malison is a former government minister from Malawi who joined our church several years ago, when he had to flee political persecution in his own country. He has since been ordained as an elder in our church and also served as Presbytery rep this past year."

The morning's Africa-themed service was followed by an evening Pentecost service.

"Pentecost is also a great time to be thinking about the rich diversity we have in our church family," Mr Mineard said.

See also

Church Moderator speaks of lessons from 'lifechanging' trip to Malawi

Church Moderator embarks on trip marking 100 years of Malawi Church

Moderator’s Challenge to light up learning in Malawi

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