As the members of the African choir at Contoocook United Methodist Church sang a hymn Sunday morning, their faces shone with happiness and reverence. They swayed and clapped their hands to the music, lifting their hands to praise God.

There was no hint of the devastation and hardship they suffered during the Aug. 13, 2004, massacre in their refugee camp in Burundi in Eastern Africa.

These refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo have found a second family at the church, and five more members were welcomed into that family when they were baptized in the Contoocook River in Hopkinton on Sunday morning.

Bishop Peter Weaver, the Methodist Bishop of New England, gave the sermon and performed the baptismal rite in the river Sunday. He waded into the river wearing rubber boots and a shirt he received during mission work in the Congo.

"I have baptized people in the Jordan River and rivers in Africa, and it is a pleasure to be able to share in this baptism and in recapturing this Methodist tradition," Weaver said.

Five teenage refugees were baptized, and three more who had already been were officially welcomed into the church. Brothers Steven Ndisabiye, 19, and Tembase Eric Ngakazi, 14, both held their noses as they were gently lowered backward into the water and then lifted back up amid cheers and clapping from the congregation.

The refugees broke into song in Swahili as their children, relatives and friends were lowered into the water. Angelique Kamariza, 15, joined two brothers, Makopq, 16, and Byishimo Alain Rugabirwa, 15, as the other baptismal candidates. Siblings Levee, 16, and Aimee Mvurumutsi, 17, and Antoine Gisore, 18, had already been baptized in the Congo but were officially welcomed into the congregation.

In Africa, baptism is traditionally done by immersion in water in the Methodist Church, so the refugees chose to have the ceremony in the river, said the Rev. Sammie Maxwell, pastor of the Contoocook church.

Both Steven and Makopq said the water was cold, but they were so happy to be baptized they did not mind.

"We are the new men of God," Steven said happily.

These Congolese came to Concord as part of a refugee program in April 2007 and knew very little English. But they did know that they wanted to worship at a Methodist church, the church they had belonged to in Africa. The only possessions they brought with them to the United States were their Bibles.

Steven Rushika, another refugee, had come to the United States several years earlier on asylum after being held prisoner during the civil unrest in the Congo. Rushika worked on the cleaning staff at Concord Hospital, where he met Jane Britain, a worker in a hospital lab and member of the Contoocook Methodist congregation. He asked Britain if the members of his group could come to Contoocook to worship, and the parish was more than happy to welcome the new members, Britain said.

The Contoocook church is a very mission-minded congregation, Britain said. The parish formed the Africa Task Force to assist the refugees with all aspects of their life and transition to the United States. Members of the congregation drive back and forth to Concord each week to bring the refugees to the worship service on Sunday mornings. Britain said they also help them with applying for green cards, insurance, finding jobs, doctor and dentist appointments, and getting driver's licenses.

"We have become a bigger community," Rushika said. "We have also Pastor Sammie and so many other people here who have helped us."

Britain said they all have jobs now and are making progress learning English.

"They are very independent now and don't want handouts," she said.

All the children are enrolled in the Concord School District, and Steven and Antoine are track stars at Concord High School. Physical education teacher and track coach Hayden Daly taught their gym class and suggested they join the team. After less than a year of running, Steven and Antoine were part of the state champion 4x800 relay team from Concord High. (next page »)