I have a confession to make: I’ve been on the World Race for seven months now, and I haven’t been to a “non-American” church since Chao, Peru…in month 2.
Thankfully, this last weekend we were able to visit a traditional African church, and boy, was it sure a privilege.
On Sunday morning, Pastor Bongie picked us up from Kedesh and drove us 30 minutes out into the bush, down roads that weren’t wide enough for the car, through rice fields, and along typical African huts. We arrived to a little mud-walled, thatched roof church without electricity.
Welcome to Africa.
While we were able to bless them through worship, skits (I got to play Jesus in not one, but two skits. Lucky me), a sermon, and prayer, I think I walked away more blessed by them.
Growing up in American church, we are all about slow, emotional worship songs. Africans? They are joyful in their worship, singing loud (without instruments), and dancing like they like it brings them no greater joy than to dance for their Daddy. They dance up and down the aisle, laughing and having a good time. It sure looks like a lot more fun than the many of the worship sessions I’ve been in back in the States.
They love that a bunch of Americans come in and preach, requiring 2 translations to ensure that the entire congregation can understand the message. If that happened in the States, people would tune out in a heartbeat.
When we invited the congregation to the front for prayer and healing, nearly the entire room made their way to the front, including the children.
As I sat in that mud hut in the middle of Africa, I couldn’t help but find so much joy in knowing that this church is the kind of church God desires. It’s a place for Christians to come together, joyfully worship the Lord, and fellowship together.
I have to admit, I’ve never considered myself to be a dance worshipper, but seeing the joy and freedom I saw in the way they worshipped the Lord made me feel like I was missing something. They have complete freedom in their worship, and as much as I want to convince myself, I’m still self-conscious about what others are thinking when I worship or do things for the Lord. Maybe my true worship style isn’t dancing, but whatever it is, I don’t fully have it right now. And I desire it.
That’s what this life is about. God wants us to experience HIS FREEDOM and JOY in this place, every day. And yet so many of us are missing the point because we get so caught up in the worldly drama, wondering what people are thinking or how others are acting. God couldn’t care less what others are doing or how they are thinking about you; He has so much for you.
This is why I’m on the World Race. I came to experience and embrace something different than what the US version of “the world” has to offer. I want to be able to worship however I feel my Father would best appreciate it, not how I think the person next to me will feel about it. I want to boldly pray for whole congregations to be healed of all ailments and know that God can and will make it happen.
We only have one life to live on this earth; we might as well make it worth it. I know at the end of my life, I won’t be lying on my deathbed thinking “wow, I’m glad I didn’t dance in worship so my neighbor wouldn’t judge me. “
African church was just the jumpstart I needed to help me dive deeper into what God has for me these last 4 months of the race. And I can’t wait to go to another African church this Sunday to see what crazy experience God has for me.
As I am finishing typing this blog, I’m listening to a song by Will Reagan and the United Pursuit called “Help Me Find My Own Flame.” I feel like the lyrics are pretty applicable.
I don’t want to ride on somebody else’s passion
I don’t want to find that I’m just dry bones
I want to burn with unquenchable fire
Deep down inside, see it coming alive
Help me find my own flame
Help me find my own fire
I want the real thing
I want your burning desire
That’s my prayer for these next 4 months, and for the rest of my life.
