Ministry has begun full force for our second week here as a team. Abba’s Pride partners with several rural churches and we have visited a few so far. This past Sunday we had the privilege of attending a service at one of the churches, Baptist Body of Christ. This church is led by Pastor Paul and his wife, Mary. (Maruti Paul and Mamaruti Mary). When we first visited this community the Friday before, there were many children and I was under the impression the large numbers would be reflected in the general congregation as well, but this was not the case. When we arrived on Sunday morning in their tiny little building, there were maybe ten other adults, aside from Maruti’s family. As we were beginning with a few songs of worship, I was just praying for God to send more people to this service because, unfortunately, for us back in the States, success has become all about the numbers. I quickly learned numbers do not matter here, nor should they matter anywhere when it comes to being in community with our Father.
Not many more people came that morning, but please believe me when I tell you it was one of the best church services I have ever been to. One of Maruti’s sons, Pontso, played the keys and Mamaruti sang at the top of her lungs to lead us all in a time of worship filled with singing, lots of dancing, clapping, and more joy than I have ever witnessed. The people of this under-resourced church worship with more authenticity than many churches I’ve been to that have fancy technology, perfect sound, and big crowds. They had to move and dance because they couldn’t contain their joy while praising our God, meanwhile my natural response when I’m in a crowd is being concerned about how I look and sound to others. Let me tell you, they could not care less what we thought of them. All they cared about was praising their Maker. How beautiful is that?
And that was just the beginning. The message delivered by Maruti Paul afterwards gave me chills that had nothing to do with the winter breeze blowing through the window next to me. He spoke on grace, he spoke on love, he spoke on unity. Here in the midst of a tiny church with a tin roof, the congregation repeated the phrase we all know yet have a hard time remembering- “God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.” There is no doubt in my mind that those words are more than just words to them. Those words are their heartbeat and they should be ours as well.
Our hearts beat as one as children of God. The Lord used these people and this community to teach me more about His character and just how evident his work is in the most unexpected of places. All across my news feed these past two days, and I’m sure yours as well, has been the heartbreaking news of two men, dearly beloved, who were killed- their voices silenced. I encourage you to remember these words Maruti Paul spoke as he closed out his sermon- “My brother, my sister, we are one.” Don’t take Maruti Paul’s words lightly. Don’t be silent. We are all His and we must all stand together as one.
Not many more people came that morning, but please believe me when I tell you it was one of the best church services I have ever been to. One of Maruti’s sons, Pontso, played the keys and Mamaruti sang at the top of her lungs to lead us all in a time of worship filled with singing, lots of dancing, clapping, and more joy than I have ever witnessed. The people of this under-resourced church worship with more authenticity than many churches I’ve been to that have fancy technology, perfect sound, and big crowds. They had to move and dance because they couldn’t contain their joy while praising our God, meanwhile my natural response when I’m in a crowd is being concerned about how I look and sound to others. Let me tell you, they could not care less what we thought of them. All they cared about was praising their Maker. How beautiful is that?
And that was just the beginning. The message delivered by Maruti Paul afterwards gave me chills that had nothing to do with the winter breeze blowing through the window next to me. He spoke on grace, he spoke on love, he spoke on unity. Here in the midst of a tiny church with a tin roof, the congregation repeated the phrase we all know yet have a hard time remembering- “God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.” There is no doubt in my mind that those words are more than just words to them. Those words are their heartbeat and they should be ours as well.
Our hearts beat as one as children of God. The Lord used these people and this community to teach me more about His character and just how evident his work is in the most unexpected of places. All across my news feed these past two days, and I’m sure yours as well, has been the heartbreaking news of two men, dearly beloved, who were killed- their voices silenced. I encourage you to remember these words Maruti Paul spoke as he closed out his sermon- “My brother, my sister, we are one.” Don’t take Maruti Paul’s words lightly. Don’t be silent. We are all His and we must all stand together as one.