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Peace Lutheran Church has diverse disciples

The Alexandria church has become an international hub of spirituality that the pastor sees as the fulfillment of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of racial unity.

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Jan. 22, 2012

Frank Obaro sings during worship service at the Peace Lutheran Church in Alexandria on Jan. 22. The congregation was mostly white when the church was built in 1957, but as the community changed, so did the church.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

Vijay Allan and daughter Sophia, 3, attend a service at the Peace Lutheran Church. Congregants say they hope the church will continue its efforts to diversify.

Jan. 22, 2012

Vijay Allan and daughter Sophia, 3, attend a service at the Peace Lutheran Church. Congregants say they hope the church will continue its efforts to diversify.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

Jonna Heber, 11, and Cornelius Sekamatte, 19, share a hymnal during worship at Peace Lutheran Church.

Jan. 22, 2012

Jonna Heber, 11, and Cornelius Sekamatte, 19, share a hymnal during worship at Peace Lutheran Church.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

The Rev. Brent Thalacker is the interim pastor at Peace Lutheran Church. Lutherans have always had a missionary zeal to go to other nations, Thalacker said, but Peace Lutheran focuses “on touching the lives of those who have already touched these shores.”

Jan. 22, 2012

The Rev. Brent Thalacker is the interim pastor at Peace Lutheran Church. Lutherans have always had a missionary zeal to go to other nations, Thalacker said, but Peace Lutheran focuses “on touching the lives of those who have already touched these shores.”

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

Nana Opoku, right, is a native of Ghana who came to the United States in 1992. He leads Peace Lutheran Church’s House of Faith International.

Jan. 22, 2012

Nana Opoku, right, is a native of Ghana who came to the United States in 1992. He leads Peace Lutheran Church’s House of Faith International.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

From left, Frank Obaro, Nana Opoku and Faustina Siaw sing and praise during House of Faith International, which is Peace Lutheran’s West African prayer and praise service.

Jan. 22, 2012

From left, Frank Obaro, Nana Opoku and Faustina Siaw sing and praise during House of Faith International, which is Peace Lutheran’s West African prayer and praise service.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

Faustina Siaw sings during worship at Peace Lutheran Church.

Jan. 22, 2012

Faustina Siaw sings during worship at Peace Lutheran Church.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

Besides Peace Lutheran’s House of Faith International Service, the church offers a Sunday School class with teachers who speak English and Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia.

Jan. 22, 2012

Besides Peace Lutheran’s House of Faith International Service, the church offers a Sunday School class with teachers who speak English and Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

The House of Faith International service at Peace Lutheran Church brings together people from Ethiopia and Eritrea, even though the countries fought for 30 years.

Jan. 22, 2012

The House of Faith International service at Peace Lutheran Church brings together people from Ethiopia and Eritrea, even though the countries fought for 30 years.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

Vicki Haugen, left, Jason Nice, 11, and other worshipers prepare to receive the holy communion at Peace Lutheran Church. “This congregation has taught itself to be more of a family than a congregation,” the Rev. Brent Thalacker says.

Jan. 22, 2012

Vicki Haugen, left, Jason Nice, 11, and other worshipers prepare to receive the holy communion at Peace Lutheran Church. “This congregation has taught itself to be more of a family than a congregation,” the Rev. Brent Thalacker says.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

The Rev. Brent Thalacker speaks to the children in the congregation. “We’ve been working for more than a decade to reflect the community that we serve by respecting each other's culture and making sure that some heavy-handed dudes don’t try to fit round pegs into square holes,” he has said.

Jan. 22, 2012

The Rev. Brent Thalacker speaks to the children in the congregation. “We’ve been working for more than a decade to reflect the community that we serve by respecting each other's culture and making sure that some heavy-handed dudes don’t try to fit round pegs into square holes,” he has said.

Marvin Joseph / THE WASHINGTON POST

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