by Nathaniel Lee
Community Correspondent
People representing nations and cultures from around the world were gathered during the 24th Annual International Tea hosted by the Church of The Overcomer, 1010 Sunset Street in Trainer, PA.
The event featured food from international countries served by cooks who shared the history, cuisine, and fashions of their cultures with members of the local community who were invited to attend. The community accepted the invitation, and the fellowship was filled with vendors, cooks, authors, and people from near and far.
Although the foods were delicious and the presentations informative, this wasn’t just a social gathering–there was a larger mission.
“We have special international guest speakers here from Nigeria, India, Haiti, and other nations to talk about the history of their nations, the history of the independence of their nations, trying to expand the world view of our people and trying to sensitize our people, particularly to what’s happening today even in real-time,” said Pastor Keith Collins of the Church of the Overcomer.
“We want to emphasize that the world is bigger than just the consumerism and consumption that is thrust upon us every day,” said Collins.
Collins said there is a connection between those of us here and the people from around the world.
“As James Baldwin said, ‘When we see these people perish, these people represent us’. So the bombs that are dropping in faraway places in Palestine and Gaza are really dropping on our own communities.”
“This is a day that we come together to celebrate all nations, nationalities, and cultures, and today was amazing,” said Aaron Mathis of the Church of the Overcomer.
“We have food from Egypt, Jamaica, Nigeria, Dubai, Japan, America, The Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. It’s just a wonderful spread of different cultures and cuisines. I look forward to it every year,” said Mathis.
Proceeds from the International Tea go toward the church’s work to support struggling people across the globe. “We do all kinds of missionary work from supporting prisoners overseas as well as our people here and disparities in homelessness,” said Angela Prattis
“Over the years, this tradition has been absolutely amazing,” she said.
Although the Church of the Overcomer is physically based in Trainer, Pennsylvania, it has a wide reach.
“In Benin City, Dr. Collins’ Bible College is there, which we also support; we also support the Prison to Praise Ministry, and right now, we have some 20-something [people] that we try to send financial support to. We also have ‘Windows of Hope’ which aids orphaned children,” said Prattis.
Visions of Hope is a ministry that provides care for children in Uganda, Africa, who lost their parents to AIDS.
Among those in attendance was Galen Tyler of the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign, or ‘The Poor People’s Army’ as they are often referred to throughout the activist community.
“The Poor People’s Army is made up and led by poor and homeless families that are working every day to help people meet their basic needs and in the long term build leaders among this army that have been declared on the poor, and trying to build a movement to put an end to poverty, hunger, and homelessness,” said Tyler.
“I have been working with the Church of The Overcomer for years,” said Tyler, who called Pastors Keith and Dr. Carolyn Collins mentors.
“For years, I have been coming to the International Tea just to be able to talk about some of the things that we do on an international level but also being able to hear and listen right here in your community how diverse and the wealth of knowledge of people from around the planet who are right here in your local neighborhood.”
**********
Thank you for reading this article on scoopusamedia.com. To read additional articles of interest, please subscribe to Scoop USA Media. Print subscriptions are $75.00 and online subscriptions (Print, Digital and Vizion) are $90. (52 weeks/1 year)
