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Poarch Community Church

February 1, 2009 | posted by Jon under united states, updates

       Thursday afternoon, January 22, we rolled up to Poarch Community Church, a Mennonite congregation on a Creek Indian Reservation near Atmore, AL.  The first thing we saw upon arrival was the church building, a quaint white structure bookended by two huge oak trees.  Legend has it these two trees were planted when the church was founded, and by looking at them today one can tell the church as been around for a while (50-60 years).  During my time there, I began to associate the those trees with the church community - well rooted in the past, yet providing shelter and fruit (OK, acorns) for people of Poarch today.

     Lars and his home congregation, Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, have been coming to Poarch for a week of fellowship and service for the past 12 years, so he was very well acquainted with everyone there.  However, by Sunday afternoon I was feeling very much at home with the 50 or so members of Poarch Community Church, and more than once was invited back anytime. 

       After the service on Sunday, the church held a potluck that we quickly learned was in honor of us.  I was amazed at how quickly word got around that we were visiting, as well as how quickly so much delicious food was assembled in one location.  Collard greens, fried chicken and pork chops, multiple casseroles, chocolate cheesecake, and SWEET tea were all present and enjoyed by all.

     After eating our fill and “taking some for road,” Lars and I got to sit and talk with three elderly ladies in the church for about two and a half hours.  It was very life-giving and interesting to talk to them, and I wish the conversation could have been recorded.  They were both genuinely interested and concerned about our trip, and at one point we had to pull out a map to reconcile differences in advice regarding the best route to Mobile.  Our conversation wandered from our trip to the broader Church, then back to Poarch Community Church, its history, and finally to what the new casino on the Creek reservation means for the tribe and the church community.

      As we all grew sleepy and the time for Sunday afternoon naps rolled around, we prayed together and then were given big hugs as we said our farewells.  I felt blessed to be part of a conversation that spanned gender, race, and age differences, and I look forward to other such conversations throughout this bike trip.

       That next morning, after some bike maintenance, a few posts on this site, and another delicious meal with the pastor of the church, who we stayed with, we said our goodbyes and headed off towards Mobile.  As we pedalled away, I was left with a pleasant mixture of memories of Poarch, AL. The congregation, the pastor, the three elderly ladies we spoke with, the histories and cultures of Native American Mennonites, the wonderful food, and finally the two huge oak trees - symbols of the ever growing work of God, both in Poarch and throughout the world.