Immanuel UMC congregation celebrates 20 years on Saipan

On Palm Sunday, April 5, 1992, a group of 10 gathered in the sanctuary of Immanuel Korean Methodist Church on Saipan for worship and fellowship, hosted by members of the Korean congregation and its pastor, the Rev. Myung Taek Lee. Barbara Grace Ripple, an ordained United Methodist minister and new resident of Saipan, had accepted Rev. Lee’s suggestion to begin services in the English language, and had posted notices throughout Saipan and in the local newspaper announcing the beginning of worship services in the United Methodist tradition. Besides the Korean-speaking Methodists who hosted them, those who attended that first service came from the Philippines, Fiji, and the United States. The religious backgrounds of those who came, besides United Methodists, were Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Congregational and United Church of Christ.

The CNMI’s population in 1992 was 80,000, of which a little less than half were the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian islanders and a little more than half were contract workers who had come from other lands. Contract workers included doctors, nurses, teachers, attorneys, accountants, hotel and restaurant workers, laborers, domestic helpers, and those working in the garment industry. The indigenous or “local” people are largely Roman Catholic from the influence of Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan and the Franciscan fathers who followed him. Contract workers from the Philippines are predominantly Catholic, but quite a few are United Methodist. Those who came from Fiji (midwives to work in the hospital) were Congregational. Those from the United States were a mix of mainline Protestant, some Catholic, and Jewish. Over and over, the people who came to that first service, and those who came to the following services, expressed their thanks for having a mainline Protestant service in the English language. Immanuel UMC was the first on the island, and has now been joined by one other, an Episcopalian congregation.

Immanuel UMC has stood out in other ways during these past 20 years of offering Christ to the community. For years the members have put together layette sets for the local hospital to give to new mothers who have no money for supplies for their new babies. The people of Immanuel UMC have taken stands that support the foreign workers being paid decent wages and given adequate housing. They have aided Guma Esperanza, “House of Hope,” the shelter for women who have experienced physical or emotional abuse. Church members have sponsored Vacation Bible School for children of the island. Immanuel UMC has provided a witness for peace and justice that is unique, not only on Saipan but in the entire CNMI. There has been an active UMW and several lay speaker training courses offered.

Immanuel UMC has continued weekly services of worship plus Sunday School and other education and service programs since its founding on April 5, 1992. The Rev. Barbara Grace Ripple was the founding pastor, and was present on April 16, 1995, when District Superintendent Rex Britt chartered the congregation as a member of the Hawaii District and the California-Pacific Annual Conference. At that time there were 90 members. Rev. Ripple continued as pastor of Immanuel UMC until July 1998, when Bishop Roy Sano appointed her to be the District Superintendent of the Hawaii District (which includes Guam and Saipan). Others who have served as pastors of Immanuel UMC since 1998 include David Corbin, Jaime Vergara, Norma Kehrberg, Ewing “Bud” Carroll, J.J. Matsumoto, and Mary “Millie” Carroll. In April 2011, Pastor Millie retired and no pastor has been appointed. Pastor Johann Osias and lay persons from Guam UMC are giving assistance for worship.

Immanuel UMC invites and welcomes everyone. It is located at Chalan Kanoa Street & Barbara Avenue, Chalan Kanoa. Sunday worship service starts at 9am. For more details, feel free to contact Jaime J. Martinez, Church Council chairperson at 285-0494. [I](Bud Caroll, DS Tom Choi, and Barbara Grace Ripple)
[/I]