Growing up attending church was anything but fun. I did not really like going to church. I saw it as a chore and a duty that God asked us to do. It was an hour each week that I had to deal with. I grew up Catholic and I hated the ritualistic methods. To me it was stand up, sit down, pray, kneel and sing. Please do not get me wrong there is nothing wrong with the Catholic Church and I am blessed to have been raised in that church, many of their traditions are amazing but it wasn’t for me anymore.
The first time I attended a Christian non-denominational church I was lost. I thought I had found a cult full of crazies. People were dancing and had their hands in the air. Songs moved from being hymns to stuff that sounded like pop music but the words were about God. As time went on and I continued attending that church it grew on me. I became the one dancing and with my hands in the air and my eyes turned to heaven. However, church still wasn’t fun. I enjoyed going now and my faith had become my own but I would not say I had fun at church.
Being in Africa I can say that now I have fun at church. Yes at church of all places. I love every aspect of it as well. My perception has greatly changed. I went from being in churches with projectors, amazing sound systems with a great band, a well done bulletin, large church facilities, parking lot attendants, and coffee in the lobby to a church made of sticks, walls from traps and tin as the roof with no parking lot, no squatty, a dirt floor, and a microphone with two speakers. I have felt the presence of God in both. I have worshiped in both. Both have impacted my life. Now I actually have fun.
I realized that what makes a church great is not what it has in terms of equipment and such but in terms of the Spirit. The atmosphere is different in Africa. No one is worried about making the brunch special or beating everyone out of the parking lot. Church service is supposed to be three hours but it always lasts longer and no one complains. People are glad to have a place to worship and honor God. People dance all over the church, up and down the aisles. The praise and worship team not only sing but they dance. The fact that only a keyboard plays random music that does not even go along with the singing does not matter. God is there that is all that matters. I love dancing to my heart’s content. I love spirit calls at random times in the service. I love the authority at which people preach and share testimonies. I love the time I spend there soaking and immersed in the Spirit. The time I dance with my Heavenly Father with a smile spread from ear to ear. I have even loved preaching and leading worship. Things I never felt worthy to do but my God has made me worthy.
Church is no longer that time I have to spend with God. It is the time that I get to spend with him and others that love him. It is just a moment in the time I spend with Him weekly. It is just the beginning of our week together. It is an important part of my walk. Church has taken on a new meaning for me. Church has become fun for me and I love it.
I am still in need of $1,769 to finish the race. Please consider partnering with me and financially supporting me. Any donation would be greatly appreciated even just $25 would help. Donations can be made by clinking the support me link on the left side of this page. Thank you and God Bless!!
