Two Ontario congregations with different cultural backgrounds have reunited as equals in the building they shared for 10 years.

Shalom Worship and Healing Center and First Mennonite Church have entered a new covenant as co-owners of the church property in Kitchener.

“We may worship in different ways, but we share the same foundation, the same core and the same calling to be disciples here in downtown Kitchener,” said First Mennonite Pastor Rene Baergen. “That feels like enough to bring us into relationship, to sit together and learn from one another.”

From 2010 to 2020, Shalom Worship and Healing Center, a Tigrinya- speaking congregation whose members come from the East African nation of Eritrea, worshiped at First Mennonite Church, a historically Swiss congregation. During that time, Shalom grew beyond what First Mennonite could support.

“The building use was too much for us,” Baergen said. “We didn’t have the resources to support it all.”

When COVID arrived, First Mennonite closed its doors, prompting Shalom to seek a new home.

“We searched everywhere for a place to worship and tried to buy in several locations, but nothing worked out,” said Shalom Pastor Daniel Tela.

During this time, the Chin Christian Church in Kitchener welcomed Shalom to use their facility, for which Shalom was deeply grateful. Still, they longed for a space of their own, large enough to accommodate their entire community, including adults, youth and children.

Meanwhile, the pandemic brought changes for First Mennonite. It became clear that maintaining their large building was no longer sustainable on their own. It was too big and draining their resources.

“We felt called to a new type of relationship — a shared relationship,” Baergen said. The congregation approached Shalom, saying, “We know you’re looking for a home, and we’re unable to fill this one. Can we find a way to do this together?”

The churches started meeting in February to discuss co-ownership. Mennonite Church Eastern Canada mission minister Norm Dyck and intercultural mission minister Fanosie Legesse facilitated meetings, guiding talks on worship schedules, office hours, custodial needs and finances.

“God had a plan to bring us back to our place of origin. We were born here,” Tela said. “His path led us back to First Mennonite.”

It’s a new kind of relationship.

“We are now in this together. They are coming home, but as co-owners, not tenants with an office in the basement,” Baergen said. “This, I believe, is what intercultural community calls us to. We’re invited to let go of our power as a historically White church and truly share.”

Tela said: “We have come together as sibling churches, growing in one land and with one place to worship God.”