Philadelphia Praise Center

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Philadelphia Praise Center
Philadelphia Praise Center
Location	1701 McKean St, Philadelphia, PA 19145
Contact Information	(267) 307-7548 phillypraisecenter@gmail.com
Date Established	Febuary 2005
Presiding Officer	Group's presiding officer
MWC Affiliated?	Yes, MCUSA.
Number of Congregations	1
Membership	200 members

Philadelphia Praise Center (PPC) is a multi-ethnic Mennonite church member of Mosaic Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Church USA located in South Philadelphia.

History

Origins

Philadelphia Praise Center (PPC) was founded in February 2005 by current pastor Aldo Siahaan and some friends. The group had been attending another Indonesian church in the Philadelphia area. They left this church because they wanted to reach out to other immigrant communities, while the pastor of their previous church was only interested in ministering to the Indonesian community. As Siahaan explains, “That’s not our calling. Our calling is to make disciples of all nations.” With this strong desire to build a multicultural congregation, the group chose Siahaan to be their pastor and began meeting and building connections.

For the first two years of its existence, Philadelphia Praise Center was a nondenominational church. In 2006, they invited Bastian Yosin, a Mennonite pastor from Indonesia, to speak to the congregation. The pastor asked PPC what its denominal affiliation was. Upon learning that PPC had no affiliation, he offered to connect the congregation with Franconia Mennonite Conference (now Mosaic Mennonite Conference). Over the next year, Philadelphia Praise Center explored the possibility of joining Franconia Mennonite Conference. They attended the conference’s annual assembly in 2006. At the worship night, they immediately felt drawn to the conference because of its warm and welcoming environment. PPC also spent a year learning about global Anabaptist beliefs as part of its discernment process. Mennonites’ emphasis on peace and justice work appealed to the congregation as a common value shared by both PPC and Anabaptists. As a result of these shared beliefs, as well as relationships built with Mennonite congregations, Philadelphia Praise Center officially joined Franconia Mennonite Conference in the summer of 2007. Today, the congregation has about 200 members, with regular attendance of around 100 people.

Growth

Feb. 2005: Aldo Siahaan and a group of friends leave the Indonesian church they are attending and found Philadelphia Praise Center

2006: Philadelphia Praise Center invites Bastian Yosin, an Indonesian Mennonite pastor, to speak at their church. He connects them with Franconia Mennonite Conference. This event begins PPC’s process of joining the Mennonite church.

2006: Philadelphia Praise Center begins building an alliance with the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia. They share a common passion for supporting immigrants and giving sanctuary to those who need it. The two groups no longer have any official affiliation, but they maintain a good relationship.

2006: Philadelphia Praise Center first offers Indonesian Muslims the use of their church building during Ramadan. The community does not respond at this time.

Summer 2007: After a year of discernment and study, Philadelphia Praise Center joins Franconia Mennonite Conference (now Mosaic Mennonite Conference). (see settlement/origins section)

Sept. 2007: Following dialogue between PPC and a local Muslim leader, Philadelphia Praise Center opens its church to the Indonesian Muslim community for prayers during Ramadan. Siahaan reached out to the conference minister, Steve Kriss, beforehand to confirm whether this practice would be consistent with Mennonite belief and practice. Kriss wholeheartedly affirmed the decision. The relationship between Philadelphia Praise Center and Masjid Al Falah continues to this day.

2007: Fernando Loyola and Lety Cortes begin ministering to the Latino community in Philadelphia. PPC saw a need for outreach to the significant number of Hispanic immigrants living in the community, so they asked the conference to send them people to meet this need. Loyola and Cortes go door to door meeting with people and inviting them to house services; the group continues to grow until they have enough for Sunday services. Ultimately, the group becomes an independent Spanish-speaking church, Centro de Alabanza. Centro de Alabanza joins Franconia Mennonite Conference in 2015, and Lety Cortes becomes the first woman of color to be recognized as a pastoral leader in Franconia Mennonite Conference.

May 2012: Aldo Siahaan receives an award from WPVI ABC-TV as part of its celebration of Asian American Heritage month. The award recognizes his work in community services, especially among the immigrant community in South Philadelphia. Young adult leader Adrian Suryajaya sees the award as a recognition of the importance of PPC’s mission work, noting, “Christians are called to being God’s love, passion, and Good News to the community where we are placed.”

2013: Philadelphia Praise Center decides not to attend the biannual Mennonite Church USA Convention held in Phoenix, Arizona. They see their choice “as a witness to [the] denomination” because of the importance of immigration issues to their community. MCUSA’s decision to host the convention in Phoenix generated controversy because of Arizona’s harsh immigration laws. PPC decides that attending convention would put undocumented church members at risk and contradict their deeply held convictions about justice and ministry to the margins.

April 2014: Aldo Siahaan is named a LEADership Minister for Franconia Mennonite Conference. In this role, he is responsible for oversight of a group of conference congregations to “Lead, Equip, And Disciple both lay and credentialed leadership.”

Sept. 25, 2014: At a New Sanctuary Movement press conference, Philadelphia Praise Center is officially named a sanctuary church. They are prepared to host undocumented immigrants in the church building when the need arises. Siahaan emphasizes the importance of this issue to their community: “At Philadelphia Praise Center most of the people are immigrants. This is kind of an issue that we deal with every month, even weekly. We know the pain and we know how it feels, so we open our space.”

June 13, 2015: Philadelphia Praise Center hosts Passport Day, an event that explores different world cultures. The event emphasizes “unity, sharing, and mutual appreciation” through a variety of activities including foods, games, and performances. PPC raises over $2000 for a planned mural project and donates 10% of the proceeds to survivors of an earthquake in Nepal.

2017: Three Indonesian churches in California join Franconia Mennonite Conference as a result of their connections with Philadelphia Praise Center. The congregations had left Pacific Southwest Conference and reached out to PPC to ask about building a relationship with Franconia instead. This action dramatically expands Franconia’s geographic coverage and demonstrates PPC’s emphasis on building relationships with other congregations.

2018: Philadelphia Praise Center receives a Missional Operational Grant from Franconia Mennonite Conference to develop its Taproot Gap Year program. This program allows college students to connect with Indonesia by spending a gap year there.

2020: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Philadelphia Praise Center serves as the hub of a network of congregations and organizations working to deliver grocery bags every week. The efforts reach hundreds of families and last four months.

Feb. 2021: Mennonite Church USA awards Philadelphia Praise Center a $2000 Justice Fund grant. This grant helps PPC and Mosaic Mennonite Conference continue providing aid during the pandemic by funding a drop-off site for virtual learning.

2021: PPC works with the City of Philadelphia to open its church building as a vaccination site.

Contemporary Trends

Anabaptist-Mennonite Identity

As mentioned in the section on origins, the Anabaptist emphasis on peace and justice work is part of what drove Philadelphia Praise Center to join Franconia Mennonite Conference. They feel like peace is a necessary message in today’s world. To spread this message of peace, Philadelphia Praise Center hosts an annual summer Peace Camp. Mennonite Central Committee Summer Service Workers help plan and execute the camp, which serves local children and resembles a Vacation Bible School but with more of an emphasis on peace, justice, and building relationships in community.

For Philadelphia Praise Center, a key facet of their Anabaptist-Mennonite identity is “being a witness to the world” so that the world can “see [their] faith through [their] action.” PPC emphasizes the importance of discipleship and following the way of Jesus in everyday life. The congregation demonstrates its faith through a variety of programs and partnerships within their local community. One example of this work is activism on immigration issues through attending rallies, being a sanctuary church, and providing aid to specific immigrants. Another example of this work is PPC’s partnership with the Philadelphia Indonesian Muslim community. In 2006, Aldo Siahaan reached out to Muslims to offer them the use of PPC’s building for prayers during Ramadan. Christians are the minority in Indonesia, so PPC members empathized with the Muslim minority in their area. In 2007, following dialogue between Siahaan and a local Muslim leader, Philadelphia Praise Center opened its church to the Muslim community for prayers during Ramadan. Steve Kriss, the conference minister and a PPC member, affirmed this decision as “what Mennonites do. We build relationships with people.”

Philadelphia Praise Center not only builds relationships within its local community, but also builds relationships with other Mennonite congregations in their conference and around the world. Part of PPC’s vision is ministering to all peoples, not just those of Indonesian background. For example, PPC saw a need for outreach to the significant number of Hispanic immigrants living in the community. They asked the conference to send them people who could meet this need. Fernando Loyola and Lety Cortes, a couple from Colorado, went door to door meeting with people and inviting them to house services; ultimately, the group became an independent Spanish-speaking church, Centro de Alabanza. Centro de Alabanza joined Franconia Mennonite Conference in 2015, and Lety Cortes became the first woman of color to be recognized as a pastoral leader in Franconia Mennonite Conference. Philadelphia Praise Center also built connections with other Indonesian churches. In Philadelphia, there are twelve Indonesian churches, comprising 4000-5000 Indonesian Christians in the community. Philadelphia Praise Center builds connections with these groups through various gatherings. Additionally, PPC has built relationships with Indonesian churches across the country and in Indonesia. Their connections with three Indonesian churches in California resulted in these congregations joining Franconia Mennonite Conference after leaving Pacific Southwest Conference in 2017. PPC collaborates with other churches in Mosaic Mennonite Conference for events that celebrate immigrants and address social justice issues. Through its emphasis on discipleship and relationship-building, Philadelphia Praise Center lives out its “vision to be a diverse church with love and compassion for the lost and for the city.”

Major Challenges

The biggest challenges faced by Philadelphia Praise Center today are tied to their identity as a congregation comprised mainly of immigrants. About 90% of people who attend PPC are immigrants. 60% of these immigrants are documented, but 40% are undocumented. Additionally, many people in the broader South Philadelphia community are undocumented immigrants. Thus, immigration policy decisions made on a national, state, or local level significantly affect Philadelphia Praise Center. One key challenge connected to immigration is family separation. Many PPC members have had to leave family behind in Indonesia. Siahaan identifies supporting people through family separation as “one of the toughest parts of [his] ministry.”

Future of the Group

Given the high emphasis Philadelphia Praise Center places on mission and aid to the community, I expect that they will continue to play a key role in both their local South Philadelphia community and in the broader Mennonite church. Demographically, they represent a growing sector of their conference. 15% of Mosaic Mennonite Conference is made up of first-generation immigrants as of 2019. When the three Californian Indonesian churches joined Franconia Conference in 2017, the percentage of conference members who were Indonesian rose to 15% as well. These congregations tend to be extremely vibrant and engaged. As Ken Beidler noted for The Mennonite in 2009, “[t]hese congregations have much to offer Mennonite Church USA in their ability to build connections in local communities, their passion for multicultural expressions in worship, and their concern for peace and justice in the world through reconciliation with the local Muslim community.” PPC offers a model for a revitalized Mennonite Church USA. One hopes that PPC and churches like it will be given more of a platform within the denomination to encourage renewal.

When asked what he saw as the future of Philadelphia Praise Center, pastor Aldo Siahaan focused on the eventual generational transition. Currently, the church is still serving the first generation, who are primarily Indonesian and other immigrants, but he recognizes the eventual need for the second generation to take over. Additionally, there are many mixed marriages within the congregation, which decreases the percentage of Indonesian members. One concrete example he expects to see is a transition to primarily using English rather than Indonesian in services. The second generation will need to develop its own way of “continuing the work” through service and worship. Philadelphia Praise Center has a thriving youth group under the leadership of Emmanuel and Jenna Villatoro. Its youth also work with Mennonite Central Committee as Summer Service Workers, a program for young adults of color to work in their community and learn about leadership. These tools help prepare the youth for the generational transition.

Important Individuals

Aldo Siahaan: founder and current pastor of Philadelphia Praise Center.

Emmanuel Villatoro: current youth pastor at Philadelphia Praise Center.

Jenna Villatoro: current youth leader at Philadelphia Praise Center.

Stephen Kriss: Philadelphia Praise Center member who has also held several conference leadership positions.

Alexandra Cindy Angela: Indonesian immigrant who joined PPC as a college student, Digital Communications Associate for Mosaic Mennonite Conference.

Stories

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Electronic Resources

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Annotated Bibliography

Angela, Cindy. “Painting Tiles at a Mosaic Youth Event.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified June 10, 2021. Accessed November 2, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2021/06/10/painting-tiles-at-a-mosaic-youth-event/. In this article, Angela reports about a youth event hosted by Philadelphia Praise Center. The youth painted donated tiles with themes that represented Pentecost. This event demonstrates the importance of community and the Holy Spirit to PPC.

Angela, Cindy. “Young Adults Take Lead in Times of Trouble.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified October 1, 2020. Accessed November 2, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2020/10/01/young-adults-take-lead-in-times-of-trouble/. This conference news article about the Mennonite Central Committee Summer Service Workers explores how they adapted their plans to be able to serve effectively during the pandemic. Angela discusses four workers in the Philadelphia area, including Christopher Jong, who worked at Philadelphia Praise Center. The article also includes a video about the young adults’ work.

Backues, Lindy. “Community Members Join Together for Passport Day.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified June 25, 2015. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2015/06/25/community-members-join-together-for-passport-day/. Backues, an elder at Philadelphia Praise Center, writes this report of Passport Day, an intercultural event hosted by PPC. The article includes description of the event’s activities, goals, and outcomes. It provides an example of PPC’s intercultural identity and engagement with the community.

Backues, Lindy. “Finding the God of Justice: My Spiritual Journey.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified April 15, 2020. Accessed November 2, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2020/04/15/finding-the-god-of-justice-my-spiritual-journey/. In this article, Backues describes his call to ministry. Backues serves as Outreach Minister for Philadelphia Praise Center. His story includes themes of justice and antiracism.

Benner, Kayla. “Youth in the City: Rooted in the Future.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified January 6, 2011. Accessed October 24, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2011/01/06/youth-in-the-city-rooted-in-the-future/. In this conference news article, Benner reflects on her experience at the Youth Leadership Retreat in November 2010. She describes her learnings from the “Rooted in Diversity” workshop she attended. Benner provides the perspective of a Mennonite outside the PPC congregation.

Beidler, Ken. “Vibrant Churches in South Philly.” Anabaptist World, originally published by The Mennonite. Last modified February 3, 2009. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/vibrant-churches-south-philly/. This feature article focuses on Philadelphia Praise Center and Nations Worship Center as vibrant congregations that model the early church. Beidler emphasizes how these immigrant churches focus more on activism and evangelism. He points towards how they can positively influence the future of Mennonite Church USA.

Burkholder, Justin. “Openness to Change.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified July 3, 2019. Accessed November 1, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2019/07/03/openness-to-change/. In this article, Burkholder, an MCC Summer Service Worker in Philadelphia, reflects on his experiences at Philadelphia Praise Center’s Peace Camp. He describes what he has learned from working with the community.

Byler, Maria. “Body, mind, heart…and feet.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified July 10, 2012. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2012/07/10/body-mind-heart-and-feet-to-mennonite-blog-6/. Byler writes this blog article as part of a series on what “Mennonite” means as a verb. While much of the article is her personal reflections on foot washing, she identifies concretely that Philadelphia Praise Center does not practice foot washing but practices demonstrating love to others in different ways. She was a member of Philadelphia Praise Center and provides an insider’s perspective on the congregation.

Byler, Maria. “Moved by Faith…Back to School.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified December 13, 2012. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2012/12/13/moved-by-faith-back-to-school/. In this article, Byler describes the Anabaptist Biblical Institute certificate program run by Philadelphia Praise Center and Centro de Alabanza de Filadelfia. The article includes a description of the class, the students, and the program’s meaning for the congregation. Byler is a student in the course.

Castillo, Andrés. “Beyond Our Comfort Zones.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified June 6, 2019. Accessed October 28, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2019/06/06/missional-operational-grants-planting-seeds/. Castillo, a Franconia Conference communication intern, outlines the conference’s system of Missional Operational Grants. He describes what each congregation who received a grant did with the money. Philadelphia Praise Center used its grant towards the Taproot Gap Year program, which is one example of PPC’s global connections.

“Congregational Profile: Philadelphia Praise Center.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified September 23, 2019. Accessed October 24, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2019/09/23/profil-jemaat-philadelphia-praise-center-congregational-profile-philadelphia-praise-center/. This congregational profile published by Mosaic Mennonite Conference, to which Philadelphia Praise Center belongs, outlines basic information about the congregation’s beliefs and practices. While the author of the profile is not named, it appears to have been written by someone who belongs to Philadelphia Praise Center. The profile centers on PPC’s activism and engagement with the broader community, especially with regards to Indonesian Muslim immigrants in Philadelphia, other Christian immigrant groups, and undocumented immigrants.

Fischer, Barbie. “Built by God to Build God’s Kingdom: Conferences Gather.” Anabaptist World, originally published by The Mennonite. Last modified November 19, 2015. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/eastern-and-franconia-conferences-gather/. In this news article, Fischer reports on the fall joint assembly of Franconia and Eastern District Conferences. The article describes the admission of two new congregations to Franconia Conference, Centro de Alabanza and Indonesian Light Church, both of which joined the conference because of connections with Philadelphia Praise Center. This article emphasizes PPC’s connections with other immigrant Mennonite churches.

Fischer, Barbie. “Standing for the Safety of Brothers and Sisters in Philadelphia.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified January 7, 2016. Accessed October 28, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2016/01/07/standing-for-the-safety-of-brothers-and-sisters-in-philadelphia/. This article details New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia’s protest against Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter’s planned reversal of the sanctuary order. Philadelphia Praise Center was closely involved with this action, and several members were interviewed for the article. Quotes from pastor Aldo Siahaan illustrate how PPC’s action on immigration matters dovetails with its faith.

Fischer, Barbie. “Standing with our Immigrant Family in the Body of Christ.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified November 23, 2016. Accessed October 28, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2016/11/23/standing-with-our-immigrant-family-in-the-body-of-christ/. This conference news article describes the services that took place the Sunday after the 2016 presidential election. Franconia Conference representatives visited South Philadelphia churches, including Philadelphia Praise Center, to express solidarity. This article illustrates the importance of the immigrant identity to Philadelphia Praise Center.

Good, Esther. “Loving Our Muslim Neighbors.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified March 2, 2016. Accessed October 28, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2016/03/02/loving-our-muslim-neighbors/. Good’s article details Philadelphia Praise Center’s relationship with the Masjid Al Falah mosque in Philadelphia. The article frames this connection as an alternative model in the context of recent terrorist attacks. Good interviews Lindy Backues, a PPC elder, about the relationship.

Good, Sheldon C. “Franconia Congregations Partner to Fight Human Trafficking.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified November 11, 2014. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2014/11/11/franconia-congregations-partner-to-fight-human-trafficking/. Good describes the collaboration of four Pennsylvania congregations, including Philadelphia Praise Center, in advocacy against human trafficking. The article frames this collaboration in the context of denomination-wide conflicts over sexuality. It illustrates one way Philadelphia Praise Center collaborates with the broader Mennonite church.

Groff, Anna. “A Selective Welcome.” Anabaptist World, originally published by The Mennonite. Last modified August 1, 2012. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/selective-welcome/. In this article, Groff interviews Sunoko Lin about the challenges faced by Indonesian immigrants. He discusses the ways that Indonesians try to obtain legal status in the United States. The article also includes statistics about immigrants at Philadelphia Praise Center.

Heinzekehr, Hannah. “Eastern District and Franconia Take Next Step on Reconciliation Journey.” Anabaptist World, originally published by The Mennonite. Last modified November 13, 2017. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/eastern-district-franconia-take-next-step-reconciliation-journey/. This article discusses the decision by Franconia Mennonite Conference to admit four new Indonesian Mennonite churches to the conference. It includes reflection about what these churches’ admittance means for the conference’s identity. Additionally, it demonstrates Philadelphia Praise Center’s connections with other Indonesian Mennonite churches.

Heinzekehr, Hannah. “Mennonites Join New Sanctuary Efforts in Philadelphia.” Anabaptist World, originally published by The Mennonite. Last modified January 4, 2016. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/mennonites-join-new-sanctuary-rally-in-philadelphia/. Heinzekehr’s article addresses Philadelphia Praise Center and Germantown Mennonite Church’s involvement with the New Sanctuary Movement in Philadelphia. The article specifically focuses on their involvement in a December 11, 2015 demonstration protesting Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter’s planned reversal of the city’s sanctuary order. This article demonstrates PPC’s involvement in immigration issues in their local community.

Heinzekehr, Hannah. “Together in Philadelphia: Stories from the Kingdom Builders Network.” Anabaptist World, originally published by The Mennonite. Last modified August 25, 2017. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/together-philadelphia-stories-kingdom-builders-network/. In this article, Heinzekehr interviews Juan Marrero and Aldo Siahaan, who are both involved in the Kingdom Builders Anabaptist Network of Greater Philadelphia. Siahaan reflects on Philadelphia Praise Center’s foundation and mission. He emphasizes the value PPC places on building relationships.

Huber, Tim. “Philadelphia Churches Offer Sanctuary for Immigrants.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference, reprinted from Mennonite World Review. Last modified October 14, 2014. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2014/10/14/philadelphia-churches-offer-sanctuary-for-immigrants/. Huber describes Philadelphia Praise Center’s involvement with the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia. The article details PPC’s reasons for joining the movement as well as the concrete steps they plan to take. This article further illustrates PPC’s actions and witness in the community.

Ingram, Colin. “Philadelphia Praise Prepares Future Leader through Summer Service.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified July 9, 2015. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2015/07/09/philadelphia-praise-prepares-future-leader-through-summer-service/. Ingram writes about the 2015 MCC Summer Service Worker at Philadelphia Praise Center, Alexandra Cindy Angela. The article contains information about Angela, the MCC Summer Service Program, and PPC’s Peace Camp. It approaches the topic primarily through a profile of Angela.

Kriss, Stephen. “Beyond Our Christendom, Signs of Life.” Anabaptist World, originally published by Mennonite World Review. Last modified October 27, 2014. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/beyond-our-christendom-signs-of-life/. In this article, Kriss reflects on his work with immigrant churches. He describes a recent trip he took with Aldo Siahaan, the pastor at Philadelphia Praise Center, to visit a group of Burmese refugees in Georgia. This article illustrates the connections that PPC builds with other immigrant Mennonite communities.

Kriss, Stephen. “Conference Pastors Recognized for Leading and Serving.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified May 24, 2012. Accessed October 24, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2012/05/24/conference-pastors-recognized-for-leading-and-serving/. Kriss’s article describes two conference pastors honored with awards. Aldo Siahaan, Philadelphia Praise Center senior pastor, received an award from WPVI ABC-TV in connection with Asian American Heritage month. The article briefly details Siahaan’s immigration, PPC’s reaction to the award, and the celebration hosted in Siahaan’s honor.

Kriss, Stephen. “God Knows Why We Won’t Go to Phoenix.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference, reprinted from Mennonite World Review. Last modified May 23, 2013. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2013/05/23/god-knows-why-we-wont-go-to-phoenix/. In this article, Kriss, a member of Philadelphia Praise Center, outlines why the congregation chose not to attend the 2013 Mennonite Church USA Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Kriss emphasizes the immigrant identity of the church. He names the church’s mission as focused on justice and inclusion.

Kriss, Stephen. “Going to the Margins: A 10 Year Experiment in South Philly.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified May 26, 2016. Accessed November 28, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2016/05/26/going-to-the-margins-a-10-year-experiment-in-south-philly/. Kriss reflects on the vibrancy of the multicultural churches in South Philadelphia, including Philadelphia Praise Center. He responds to concerns in the broader church about decline by arguing that some portions of the Mennonite church needs new energy and vitality in its worship and congregations. He feels these immigrant congregations offer a strong model of how to do church well.

Lioi, Samantha. “2012 Peace Camps: Love on a Local Scale, Part 2.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified August 27, 2012. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2012/08/27/2012-peace-camps-love-on-a-local-scale-part-2/. This article describes Philadelphia Praise Center’s third annual summer Peace Camp. It addresses the content and structure of the camp as well as reflections of the organizers. Articles about this peace camp are especially relevant in illustrating how PPC lives out its Anabaptist-Mennonite identity.

Ochieng, Mikah. “Advocating Justice in Our Education System.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified September 4, 2013. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2013/09/04/advocating-justice-in-our-education-system/. In this article, Ochieng, who attends Philadelphia Praise Center and was on Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s summer writing team for 2013, profiles Maria Byler, another PPC member. Ochieng describes Byler’s social work. He and Byler argue that inner city education suffers from institutional racism, and that racism needs to be dismantled so all children can have an equal education.

Ochieng, Mikah. “Justice Includes Compassion and Mercy.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified August 21, 2013. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2013/08/21/justice-includes-compassion-and-mercy/. In this article, Ochieng, who attends Philadelphia Praise Center and was on Mosaic Mennonite Conference’s summer writing team for 2013, interviews Bobby Wiwowo, another PPC member. Wiwowo works in immigration law. The article illustrates PPC’s views on justice and mercy.

“Passport Day: Discovering Culture Through an International Fair.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified May 14, 2015. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2015/05/14/passport-day-discovering-culture-through-an-international-fair/. This article outlines an upcoming event to be hosted by Philadelphia Praise Center. The event was planned to explore different world cultures and raise funds for a community beautification project. It describes the congregation’s desired outcomes of the event.

Philadelphia Praise Center. Last modified 2021. Accessed October 24, 2021. https://philadelphiapraise.com/. Philadelphia Praise Center’s website provides basic information about the congregation, such as its address and worship times. It also defines the congregation’s identity, values, and mission, creating a picture of a vibrant, diverse, and community-oriented congregation. The website includes sections in English and Indonesian.

Philadelphia Praise Center. “Sunday Service 11-21-2021.” YouTube. November 21, 2021. Video, 1:42:27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FEf6k0YVc0. This video provides an example of a Sunday morning service at Philadelphia Praise Center. The service is primarily in Indonesian with some English. The video demonstrates PPC’s praise-style worship and fluid combination of prayer, song, and sermon.

Ralph Servant, Emily. “Standing in the Gap at the Border and at Home.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified July 25, 2019. Accessed November 2, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2019/07/25/standing-in-the-gap-at-the-border-and-at-home/. This article outlines Philadelphia Praise Center’s activism to help immigrants in the context of a recent wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. PPC’s efforts include renovations to facilitate serving as a sanctuary church and direct aid to immigrants who need help navigating the system. The article includes quotes from PPC members about why they see these actions as essential work for their community.

“Seeing God Around Every Corner in South Philly.” Summer Service Stories from Mennonite Central Committee. Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified August 20, 2013. Accessed October 25, 2021. This article focuses on the experiences of Ardi Hermawan, who worked as an MCC Summer Service Worker with Philadelphia Praise Center. It includes some biographical details. It also includes a quote from Siahaan about the importance of community.

Shelly, Abigail. “Immigration Community Day Held in Philadelphia.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference, reprinted from The Mennonite. Last modified August 22, 2018. Accessed October 28, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2018/08/22/immigration-community-day-held-in-philadelphia/. Shelly, who served as a summer ministry intern at Philadelphia Praise Center, describes Mennonite Central Committee’s Immigration Community Day in Philadelphia, which took place on August 4, 2016. She reflects on how working at PPC has taught her about community. The article demonstrates the growing importance of immigrants in Franconia Conference.

Siahaan, Aldo. “Celebrating 10 Years of Worship, Service and Connection in South Philly.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified February 18, 2015. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2015/02/18/celebrating-10-years-of-worship-service-and-connection-in-south-philly/. On the occasion of Philadelphia Praise Center’s tenth anniversary, Siahaan reflects on the multiethnic community built at PPC. The article briefly describes the founding of PPC. It also addresses the meaning of the 10-year celebration service.

Siahaan, Aldo. Interview by Grace Hitt. November 29, 2021. I conducted this interview with Aldo Siahaan, the pastor of Philadelphia Praise Center, over a Whatsapp call. The interview lasted approximately half an hour. We discussed PPC’s origins, relationships with other churches, immigration advocacy, relationships with Muslims in the community, and other advocacy efforts.

Siahaan, Aldo. “On Realizing What It Means to be a Mennonite.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified August 22, 2012. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2012/08/22/on-realizing-what-it-means-to-be-a-mennonite/. Siahaan writes this blog article as part of a series on what “Mennonite” means as a verb. He reflects on his personal journey of identification with the Mennonite faith. He also describes the relationship Philadelphia Praise Center has built with the Indonesian Muslim community in Philadelphia and how this connection demonstrates his Mennonite faith.

Siahaan, Aldo. “One of the Hardest Parts of My Ministry.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified March 17, 2016. Accessed October 28, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2016/03/17/one-of-the-hardest-parts-of-my-ministry/. Siahaan reflects on the difficulties of family separation. He reflects on multiple stories he has encountered and describes how family separation is a tangible issue in his ministry because of the immigrant nature of his congregation. This article emphasizes the importance Philadelphia Praise Center places on community.

Siahaan, Aldo. “Some Things Don’t Change.” Anabaptist World. Last modified March 30, 2021. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/some-things-dont-change/. In this feature, Siahaan discuses some of Philadelphia Praise Center’s efforts to help their community during the pandemic. These efforts include sharing accurate information about COVID-19 in Indonesian, distributing groceries, and helping people pay rent. Siahaan connects these efforts to PPC’s values, especially the demonstration of faith through action.

Steiner, Lora. “Celebrating with Aldo and Viviani.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified September 2, 2014. Accessed October 25, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2014/09/02/celebrating-with-aldo-and-viviani/. Steiner wrote this article on the occasion of Viviani Chandra’s green card approval that allowed her to move to Philadelphia. Chandra is Aldo Siahaan’s wife. The article details the story of their relationship and the struggles of dealing with the immigration system.

Suryajaya, Adrian. “MWC Executive Secretary Preaches in Philadelphia.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified February 9, 2012. Accessed October 24, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2012/02/09/world-conference-executive-secretary-preaches-at-philadelphia-praise-center/. Suryajaya, a member of Philadelphia Praise Center, writes about Pastor Cesar Garcia’s sermon at PPC on January 29, 2012, and the congregation’s reactions to it. Of the congregations in Franconia Conference, Garcia chose to speak at PPC first. This choice illustrates the congregation’s importance on a global level as a model of multiethnic worship and praise. Suryajaya describes the validation Garcia’s message gave the congregation about the work they are doing.

Sutter, Ben. “Holy Hospitality.” Mosaic Mennonite Conference. Last modified January 7, 2011. Accessed October 24, 2021. https://mosaicmennonites.org/2011/07/01/holy-hospitality/. In this article, Ben Sutter, a summer intern with Franconia Conference Communications, describes his first impressions of Philadelphia Praise Center. He provides the perspective of a Mennonite who is not part of the PPC congregation. He emphasizes the sense of community and hospitality at PPC.

Williams, Jerrell. “Participating in Praise and Peace in Philadelphia.” Anabaptist World, originally published by The Mennonite. Last modified July 2, 2018. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/participating-praise-peace-philadelphia/. In this article, Williams describes his experience worshipping with Philadelphia Praise Center and teaching at the summer Peace Camp. He outlines the atmosphere and structure of a typical Sunday service. This article provides an outsider’s perspective of Philadelphia Praise Center.

Yoder McLoughlin, Amy. “Welcoming the Stranger Now Versus 300 Years Ago.” Anabaptist World, originally published by The Mennonite. Last modified May 28, 2018. Accessed November 26, 2021. https://anabaptistworld.org/welcoming-stranger-now-versus-300-years-ago/. Yoder McLoughlin’s feature article details the connections between Germantown Mennonite Church and Philadelphia Praise Center. She connects the story of immigrants to the story of the early church. This article will be helpful in connecting PPC to sixteenth century Anabaptists.

Archives and Libraries

List the archives and libraries that contain materials about this group

External Links

Philadelphia Praise Center Website

https://www.facebook.com/Philadelphiapraisecenter/ Philadelphia Praise Center Facebook Page]

Acknowledgments

Author: Grace Hitt.

Wiki editor: Luis Tapia Rubio, ISGA assistant.