By Sonya Hollins, editor
editor@comvoicesonline.com
KALAMAZOO (MICH.)-Svetlana Nikolayevna Tikhonova teaches English to students in Russia. However, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that she had ever stepped foot in the United States.
“It is important to teach students American culture, and now I have been able to see it, touch it, for myself. This will help me in my teaching,” Tikhonova said during her visit to Fresh Fire A.M.E. Church with Pastor Bobbette Hampton. The Rev. Hampton served as a host site for three international visitors who were a part of the International Visitor Leadership Program. The program provides insights on America through politics, society, culture and history.
The Reverends Hampton and Don DeYoung were selected as members of the Northside Ministerial Alliance to speak to the visitors and share their religious beliefs and how they came into the ministry.
Visitors were impressed to learn of the Rev. Hampton’s ‘call’ to the ministry and her challenges being one of the few African American women appointed to lead a church.
“Fresh Fire is truly a church of worship,” the Rev. Hampton said. “Sometimes I don’t give a sermon when times come where we allow the Holy Spirit to minister. It’s not about me, its about being used by God.”
The Rev. DeYoung, from a Dutch Reformed Church background, said true worship is getting away from what people want.
“If we struggle less with what we believe, and embrace more in working together, we will find ourselves growing together,” he said.
The students asked questions about religious freedoms and how it impacts their community. Students also shared what they had learned during their visit, and how it will influence how they see America in the future.
Zuzana Zopcanova of Slovakia said it is rare to see people of African descent in her country. Visiting the United States gave her a new perspective of the African American culture.
“We have visited New York, and will visit Texas and California,” Zopcanova said. “I have found that the energy and spirit of Afro Americans is that they enjoy life,” she said.
Suleyman Cengiz of Turkey is the director of Culture and Fair of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality where he is the head of Turkish-Japanese Association in Mersin. He said while he had traveled the world, he had never been to the United States.
“The U.S. is more different than anyplace I have traveled in Europe because, here there are people from all cultures around the world who bring who they are to one place. The U.S. is the most unique place I’ve visited in the world,” Cengiz said.
