Church has officially left the building! If there is one thing I have learned here in Ghana is that church is not a building, church is the body of people. WE ARE THE CHURCH! Team New Song and Team 180 have created church while living here in Ghana. Not only do we live in community but we worship, break bread, do ministry, pray, prophesy, and live everyday together as the church. We worshiped God with over 1,000 Ghanaians under the light of the moon and we danced with the stars, with no roof over our head. We had church on the beach and spoke on what God has done in our lives, no roof over our head. We sang to God at our house while the power was out, just our voices and a drum. We went to a village and showed the Jesus film and played with the children. We held bible studies and women’s community groups on campus outside. Church is not a building, church is us, the body of Christ. WE ARE THE CHURCH!
While being in Ghana, our teams have studied Acts. Acts is the gospel of the “Risen Christ” and the history of the first church. During the course of Acts thousands of people came to know Christ and signs and wonders were being performed daily. People who heard the Good News adhered to the doctrine and fellowship that the apostles taught. The apostles had everything in common and were completely unified to advance the kingdom. They lived in complete community and fellowship. In Acts 1:15, it said the apostles were “of one accord” which was very significant because their minds, affections, desires, dreams were concentrated on one object (much like all of us). Yes, we all come from different backgrounds, different teachings on doctrine, different political beliefs, but we have a united vision out here on the race: to go and make disciples of all nations, to be Gods will here on earth, to love God and love people. Every one of the apostles hearts aligned. None of them were uninterested, unconcerned, or lukewarm. The Spirit met them in their unity.
Could you imagine: if the church took it to the streets, was united, and took up James 1:27 and how that could change the world. But it is now a personal choice to choose in daily. But in unity nations can be rocked, towns can be altered, and hearts can be won.
Those who heard the teachings of the apostles received it, retained it, and acted on it. They ACTED! They didn’t stay in there lukewarm Christian lifestyle, stuck in their duty to go to church on Sundays, following rules, etc they ACTED. But they did it with a right heart. They were living in the world, but were separate from the world. They lived in holy Christian fellowship, strengthening and building up each other in their faith. They did not relent with each other. They constantly chose in to each other and to building up their faith
The apostles sold everything they had, took up the great commission, and provided for each other; just like us prior to leaving for the race. Abandoning our prior lifestyles to simply follow Christ and do what he has ordained for us to do. We are not defined by our stuff, how much money we have, or how big our church building is. We are defined by Christ; and our humility to freely give back what Christ so freely gave us. The apostles praised God together and were well looked upon. There was something that made them different that people wanted to be around them. The Lord blessed the apostles by putting people in their paths to give them the privilege of telling their testimonies to and therefore many more were added. Every thing revolved around kingdom. Every facet of the mind and soul were focused on God.
Us World Racers on L-Squad are the church. We will continue to be the church to the nations and we will be UNITED!
