By Kristen Thomason

Being an immigrant is not easy.

“I understand myself how stressful it is. Most refugees have been victims of violence which, as a result, caused the loss of family members and properties. Most refugees think that the Lord had forsaken them. They lose their hope and even their faith.” Pastor Amisi Mardochee Kamango himself came to the United States from Benin seeking asylum after the death of his father. He is one of 89.3 million people displaced worldwide, a quarter of whom are refugees. According to the United Nations, the world is experiencing the largest number of displaced persons since World War II.

Immigrants to a new country need help with housing, employment, transportation and integration into the culture. Pastor Kamango had a vision to help the hundreds of refugees from Africa and Asia resettling in Indianapolis and founded Alpha Omega Worship Church in his small apartment. A friend connected him with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to help him realize his dream.

“The formation of CBF’s Church Starts was very decisive for the evolution of my Church. It was gold that I received in Atlanta,” said Kamango.

Through his partnership with CBF, Pastor Kamango received coaching support, networking opportunities and $15,000 over three years to fund church programs at Alpha Omega Worship Church. This assistance transformed the church. “Before this training, less than ten people met in the living room of my apartment. But three years later, we are multiplied times ten,” he said.

Alpha and Omega Worship Church’s motto is: ‘’Only compassion can change lives.’’ The congregation lives this out through the “power of collective action to meet individual needs.” Pastor Kamango lets the needs of the community determine the direction of the church’s ministry. “We committed ourselves to helping the whole community of people of different religions and languages.” A rise in alcohol abuse among teens in the neighborhood inspired the church to start a youth group and later three youth camps. When families needed daycare, Alpha and Omega recruited elderly women to come to people’s homes and watch their children.

Transportation is a big challenge for new immigrants.

“More than 90 percent of members do not drive when they arrive in Indianapolis; they expressed the need to get to work,” he said. So Alpha Omega Worship Church provides transportation with their own van, offering rides to work during the first few months of employment while working with individuals to pass their driving test and acquire a car. The church also drives members to the market, doctors’ appointments, the hospital and to church. With the need for transportation so high, Pastor Kamango believes the church actually needs a bus to meet the demand.

Alpha and Omega is currently worshiping in rented space and raising money to acquire their own property for their growing congregation. They’ve added a second worship service on Sunday mornings to accommodate increasing attendance, and the children’s Sunday School must gather as a group in Pastor Kamango’s office because there are no classrooms. From Friday to Sunday, the church facilitates 12 different programs to meet the needs of its members and community. Choir practice, ESL classes, mothers’ parenting groups, prayer groups and Bible studies all meet in the building’s fellowship hall.

A church building of their own would allow Alpha and Omega to divide the children’s Sunday School into age-based classes to better meet the developmental needs of their youngest members. Having the ability to separate English language learners into various levels of proficiency would improve the church’s ESL classes. Rather than sending daycare workers into people’s homes, the church would like to be able to provide quality childcare in their own building.

To improve employment opportunities for immigrants and refugees, Pastor Kamango is creating an employment opportunities initiative program in the church. Alpha and Omega already provides assistance to job seekers filling out applications and submitting resumes. Having the ability to work directly with companies would allow them to ensure more people find employment.  “Employment will allow everyone to support their own family and become a leader in the community,” he said. “Investing in the future of refugees and immigrants is essential to the success of the entire country.”

Alpha and Omega has already helped 12 members of the church and community gain their American citizenship. When This group of immigrants and refugees first arrived in Indianapolis in 2018, the church guided them through the processes of obtaining their first IDs, driver licenses and green cards. From its own resources, the church provided them with assistance finding jobs, medical care and groceries until they obtained their citizenship.

Pastor Kamango asks for the prayers and support of Cooperative Baptists as Alpha and Omega Worship Church continues its ministry to the refugee and immigrant community in Indianapolis. “Supporting our vision will maintain the effectiveness of achieving our organization’s mission. The success of our activities will have a more substantial impact on refugees and the different communities we serve.”