Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church: A house of prayer for all nations

July 15, 2016 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Eagle photos by John Alexander

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The story of the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Bay Ridge is a truly inspiring one. It tells of how a small church was able to endure seemingly insurmountable odds and emerge even stronger from the experience. It’s the story of a congregation holding on to its history and tradition, while also reaching out and embracing cultural diversity.

The church suffered extensive damage during the tornado that struck the neighborhood in 2007. When the tornado hit Bay Ridge, the church’s beautiful stained glass window shattered. The parishioners all banded together and raised the needed funds to replace the window and repair all the additional damage.

History

But the real story of the church dates back to the turn of the century. According to Pastor David Aja-Sigmon, “The church was founded in 1904 as the Syrian Protestant Church. The name eventually changed to Syrian Presbyterian Chruch when Dr. Edward Jurji, a world religions professor at Princeton, took over as pastor. Jurji was Lebanese, and happened to be Presbyterian. Jurji remained pastor for forty years.

In 1957, members of the church took upon themselves the task of physically building the church in its current location. Aja-Sigmon explained that the church’s name was changed at that time to Fourth Avenue Presbyterian in order to leave the door open for everyone and not limit it to a particular ethnicity.

Today, the church is still about 40 percent Arabic, but now has members from five continents. Aja-Sigmon explained, “We’ve got Latinos, we’ve got Norwegians, we’ve got African-Americans, we’ve got folks from South Asia and the Caribbean. And I think that in essence this church has always been sensitive to immigrants, and understood what it’s like to be a new person in this country. Hospitality has been a huge part of what this church was, and I think still is. That’s why our sign reads, ‘Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church-A House of Prayer for All Nations.’”

Aja-Sigmon has been pastor for 11 years. On an average Sunday, the church has about 75 worshippers, so it’s small enough that people really get to know each other in a familial manner. Aja-Sigmon explained that a lot of the families that were around when the they moved to Bay Ridge are still the pillars of the church today.

Four years ago, the congregation of Bay Ridge United joined Fourth Avenue Presbyterian, adding 25 new members to the congregation. Aja-Sigmon said, “We know it’s hard when a church has to close, but in this case our church grew and it opened up new opportunities for us.”

Community

Aja-Sigmon is also proud of the good works the church does for the community. “I think another thing this church does is not just be hospitable to the people who come on Sunday, but also to our neighborhood. We have a food pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we actively engage in the local soup kitchen and there is a community group called the Bay Ridge CSA who meet in the garden every weekend to get fresh local vegetables. We host them and we’ve created a partnership so that our local soup kitchen gets all the leftover vegetables. And we’ve also been able to help some low-income families get some fresh organic vegetables.”

He continued, “Another thing we’ve done that we’re very proud of is become partners with the Trinity Healing Center, which is a local advocacy group for people that have suffered domestic violence. We partner with them by hosting events so that other churches and non-profits can be educated about how to be a safe place and how to speak about domestic violence. We feel that this issue is heard but not always discussed. It’s a painful discussion but we’re here to help.”

Concerts

Aja-Sigmon, a music lover himself, has found ways to incorporate unique musical showcases to help raise funds for the church. He pointed to gospel performances by Rosemary Napoli, a pastor in training, and concerts by Broadway actor and parishioner Doug Jabara. Jabara has spearheaded numerous church fundraisers. He recently performed in “La Cage Aux Folles,” and “1776,” playing the part of Benjamin Franklin. This past May, Jabara drew a large crowd to the church for “Let’s Fall in Love-Featuring American Song Standards a la Frank Sinatra and the Great White Way.”

Jabara’s family is one of the pillars of the church that Aja-Sigmon referred to. His uncle Richard Merhige’s father, Habib Merhige, was one of the actual builders of the church, and his mother, Carole Jabara, and aunt, Jackie Merhige, help run the popular weekly seniors’ gathering at the church.

Aja-Sigmon concluded, “The church has always been a place of hospitality, but we’re trying to be engaged with not just those who come in, but those who are part of the community. It’s the classic Brooklyn story; people from all different backgrounds are making this place their spiritual home.”