As my team and I filed into the church, the preacher’s wife shook our hands saying “Praise the Lord” and we took our seats on white and yellow lawn chairs.
At first, I thought it was a small church as there were only a couple of men on the left and some women and children on the right sitting on the colorful mats. But oh, I was wrong.
As the service picked up, we began what was our 2 to 3 hour worship. Singing their praises and clapping furiously (I have noticed this is important in their worship), they praised the same God that we praise in America. And more and more brothers and sisters in Christ came in every couple of minutes going to their separate sides the men wearing their colorful shirts, women wearing their colorful saris, and children sitting everywhere in the room.
After an hour and a half or so my team and I got to go up front and lead a couple songs, prayed, and Sara (a girl on my team) led a great sermon about the Samaritan woman.
When she was done, we got to talk about what where going and a bit of our hearts for God to the church. After this, the pastor and his church prayed over us for at least 5 minutes and it was such an absolute privilege. Which, I will note, this is the second church that one of their prayers for us is that God will bring us great husbands.
The service officially ended, and then the people came and shook our hands and said “Praise the Lord” and we got to pray for the individuals who wanted prayer.
And then.
The pictures and the selfies started. Now what was about 40 members in the church all wanted to take pictures or selfies with us. I couldn’t help but laugh from the constant stream of people as my face hurt more and more from smiling so much.
Most of the people left and it was just my team and I, our hosts, and the preacher and his wife with their two precious daughters.
What blew me away about this woman, though, was her passion.
She had told us that she was put in jail for a day for preaching the Good News. I had the privilege to meet a fiery, passionate sister-in-Christ who loves our Jesus who was persecuted for faith but SHE WOULDN’T BACK DOWN. The love and excitement shown in her eyes, her words, and her body posture. It was a blessing to me, personally, to be able to meet someone face-to-face who loved Jesus more than life and was truly tested and is tested in it.
The wife also shared with us some of her desires and hopes for ministry and the goals they had. It was apparent to me that she is definitely a leader in her church. They have had this church for five years, but are renting a building. They are praying for one of their own. They asked for prayers for their church believers–that they would grow in the Holy Spirit and boldness. They prayed for strength. And the wife also wants to open an orphanage.
It is incredibly apparent that her and her husband love Jesus and that the Holy Spirit is active and working in this church. Will you pray for these fellow believers? Though I can’t give the name of her and her family nor their church, the Lord knows who His children are. Please pray for them.
rq”eO”
