On Wednesday of this week, we returned from spending time in a community not very far from our host home in Pretoria. Our time there was spent teaching the leaders of Rock of Ages church in Maubone how to run their very own Holiday Club (Vacation Bible School). We arrived on Sunday for their church service, then stayed in the village at the pastor’s house for a few nights. In just a short amount of time we as a team met and bonded with the many children in that community as well as the incredible group of adults that dedicate their time to serve day in and day out.
During our last night there we had a showing of The Jesus Film. Quick side note about this connection- I’m a part of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) at VCU and that film is a project of the ministry as a whole, all around the world. I had no idea Abba’s Pride showed the film until we arrived in the community so I was pleasantly surprised to hear I would be able to experience it, even though I’m not directly a part of a Cru Summer Mission right now. The film is the story of Jesus, the greatest story ever told (imagine Passion of the Christ, but the PG version). The coolest thing about this film is its adaptation to the different cultures around the world. It has been translated into countless languages so the people of Maubone could experience the most incredible story ever told in their native language, Tswana.
Even though I had never seen the film, I knew the story. I’ve known the story for practically my whole life so I went into the viewing with the mindset of simply focusing on praying for the members of this community while they watched. It wasn’t until one of the first miracles was shown and the members began cheering and clapping that I realized- we should never become numb to this story. Making the blind see, raising the dead to life, being whipped for sins He never committed, nailed to a cross, and coming back from the dead to welcome us with open arms. Us, the very ones who nailed Him to the tree by our actions. As the film went on they didn’t stop reacting because to many of them, this was all new. And even to the ones who knew the story, they didn’t sit in silence. They felt the pain of their Savior. They felt the joy when He rose from the dead.
When we returned back to the house we were staying at right after the film, one of the volunteers came to visit. His name is Brian and believe me when I tell you, this man is one of the most genuine men I’ve ever met. His knowledge of the Word and his heart for the Lord are so evident. When I asked him what he thought of the film, he replied, “Oh! So much pain...But then so much happiness!!! Oh I just can’t explain it. Wow. Wow.” Then he proceeded to give us an impromptu sermon, using my Bible and spitting out scripture like nobody’s business. This man, who has very little from the materialistic American perspective, in reality has so much more than many of us. That night I realized just how distracted I become. I think of all of the late nights I get back from work and I just want to watch Netflix to unwind, or the times I spend scrolling through social media. Those precious moments could be spent scrolling through my Bible app and digging into the word, a little bit at a time. Yes, I am busy, but why is it that I allow that to be an excuse? Is my God not worth my personal time?
The answer is obvious. Now it’s up to me to make the changes I want to see.
During our last night there we had a showing of The Jesus Film. Quick side note about this connection- I’m a part of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) at VCU and that film is a project of the ministry as a whole, all around the world. I had no idea Abba’s Pride showed the film until we arrived in the community so I was pleasantly surprised to hear I would be able to experience it, even though I’m not directly a part of a Cru Summer Mission right now. The film is the story of Jesus, the greatest story ever told (imagine Passion of the Christ, but the PG version). The coolest thing about this film is its adaptation to the different cultures around the world. It has been translated into countless languages so the people of Maubone could experience the most incredible story ever told in their native language, Tswana.
Even though I had never seen the film, I knew the story. I’ve known the story for practically my whole life so I went into the viewing with the mindset of simply focusing on praying for the members of this community while they watched. It wasn’t until one of the first miracles was shown and the members began cheering and clapping that I realized- we should never become numb to this story. Making the blind see, raising the dead to life, being whipped for sins He never committed, nailed to a cross, and coming back from the dead to welcome us with open arms. Us, the very ones who nailed Him to the tree by our actions. As the film went on they didn’t stop reacting because to many of them, this was all new. And even to the ones who knew the story, they didn’t sit in silence. They felt the pain of their Savior. They felt the joy when He rose from the dead.
When we returned back to the house we were staying at right after the film, one of the volunteers came to visit. His name is Brian and believe me when I tell you, this man is one of the most genuine men I’ve ever met. His knowledge of the Word and his heart for the Lord are so evident. When I asked him what he thought of the film, he replied, “Oh! So much pain...But then so much happiness!!! Oh I just can’t explain it. Wow. Wow.” Then he proceeded to give us an impromptu sermon, using my Bible and spitting out scripture like nobody’s business. This man, who has very little from the materialistic American perspective, in reality has so much more than many of us. That night I realized just how distracted I become. I think of all of the late nights I get back from work and I just want to watch Netflix to unwind, or the times I spend scrolling through social media. Those precious moments could be spent scrolling through my Bible app and digging into the word, a little bit at a time. Yes, I am busy, but why is it that I allow that to be an excuse? Is my God not worth my personal time?
The answer is obvious. Now it’s up to me to make the changes I want to see.