A black car with tinted windows pulled up on the side of the street where we stood waiting.
There were 3 men and 4 of us women. We got in the car. One of the men immediately started speaking of the miracles he witnesses everyday.
I felt a bit better about my decision to get in the car.
We drove for about 20 minutes to the other side of town and pulled up to a old department building of some sort that looked pretty empty from the outside.
I laughed to myself.. Is this real life?
We walked up one flight of stairs to another empty floor, then another, then another.
I felt safe… Kind of.
Then we got to the third floor, there was a mat on the floor, a drum set, piano, guitar and two speakers. It was a worship set.
Audible sigh of relief.
There we were, a part of the Underground Church.
People gathered, one by one over the next 30 minutes until about 20 people were there. We all sat in a circle and introduced ourselves. I sat and looked each individual in the eye, humbled and in awe of the strength each of them visibly carried.
We sat in the presence of true warriors. Warriors for the Kingdom. Warriors that come together everyday at odd hours, on the third floor of random buildings to talk about God and praise Him and the work He is doing. Warriors that have to meet in secret.
Because where they come from, God is not welcome.
They come together, in their Underground Church, and create community, create disciples, and go out and risk it all to share God's love.
I was blessed with the opportunity and privilege to sit in the midst of the community in the Underground Church, in a room full of His sons and daughters that have put their lives on the line to share the good news .Thank you Lord for your children that risk everything to bring Your Kingdom. Some have gone to prison, some have seen their fathers shot dead just because he was a pastor, and some have seen friends disappear, never to be seen again. Yet everyday they come together to worship You. They smuggle bibles and teaching material to learn more about You, they fight their entire lives to know You more, to live in Your presence.. they risk their lives to share Your Kingdom, and they do it willingly with passion, perseverance and complete joy…
Because You are worth it.
Thank you Lord, yet again for giving me a new glimpse of not only the ways You fight for Your children, but for the ways Your children fight for You. While they may not have freedom here on earth, they have freedom in the place where it truly matters, walking in a relationship with You.
Alive & Free,
Erica
