This post continues the Mission Table’s “Year of Partnership” highlighting the new and strategic ministries of the Minneapolis Area Synod. Minnesota Swahili Christian Church is one of the strategic ministries and worships in South Minneapolis.
By Lulu Semakula
Lulu is a high school senior at Irondale High School in Mounds View. She will be heading to Colorado to join the Airforce Academy next year.
The room is alive with color, music, and the warmth of community. Dressed in vibrant fabrics and glowing with joy, men and women (young and old) gather for what’s become the most anticipated event of our year—the annual Swahili Church Women’s Gala. It’s more than a celebration—it’s a statement of who we are and who we’ve become.
The Women’s Ministry at Swahili Church has grown in ways we never imagined. What started as a small circle of prayer and support has transformed into the strongest and most active ministry in our congregation. The women truly lead, serve, and show up. And through it all, they’ve created a space where women are empowered to connect, grow in their faith, support one another, and spread Good News to “their neighbors”.
Fundraising is crucial for our Swahili Women’s Ministry. Through annual individual financial contribution commitment and the funds obtained from selling gala tickets, the Ministry provides support for women facing pregnancy and health related challenges, general health issues, the loss of loved ones, and most importantly –offering both emotional and physical help (feeding the sick or care of children, etc.). The amount of support and care this group has for one another is priceless – considering many of us do not have blood-tied family members within the country limits.
By far, besides remaining the most vital fundraising event of the year, the Gala is the coolest and the most fun event. It is the heartbeat of the Swahili ministry. It’s a doorway to the community. It is the Swahili way we welcome others into our community: all genders, young and old adults – with open arms. Just as we all prepare our homes for guests, the Swahili Women work hard to make everything just right, from the food and music, to the decorations and conversation and sometimes traditional dances by several aunties. It’s the community’s way of saying, “Karibu! (Welcome!). Come in and let’s connect and have a good time together.”
On a personal note, it is an honor to share this fun part of my congregation. At the Gala, we dance, we eat, we laugh—and in the process, we build deeper relationships that stretch across generations and cultures. The Gala, and the ministry behind it, is a bridge between our African roots and the American lives we’re building. It’s a way of holding both identities with pride, honoring our past while embracing our future.
If you’ve never joined us before, this is your invitation. Come experience the joy, the sisterhood, and the powerful spirit that fills the room. Come be part of something beautiful on Saturday, May 3, at the Mounds View Community Center.
You’re invited: