My Birthday Night

 

“My team was asked last month while we were still in Guatemala to join
in a crusade while we were down here in Nicaragua. We never really
committed to it or heard much more from the pastor that was in charge
so when we got down here to Nicaragua we weren’t sure if plans had
changed or not. A few days before the crusade was supposed to start our
team leader, Neil got a phone call and confirmed that we were going to
take part so on Thursday night and Friday night my team sent four
people to Managua, one to preach and the rest to pray and minister to
people.

I got to go on Friday night. “Crusade” is a new word to me this year
but it basically means open air evangelism. I didn’t really know what
to expect of this crusade but when we were picked up by four men in
nice suits in a Chevy suburban I became sure that we were a little out
of our league. We pulled up to an empty parking lot in a poor suburb of
Managua where a large stage was set up. After further inspection I
could tell this stage was a tractor-trailer truck bed that was
fabricated to fold
open. There were lights and even cameras recording, a full band with
five back up singers and enough chairs for about 200 people. This was
the big time. As worship began the four of us were promptly ushered up
onto the stage for our VIP seats with all the other pastors. I
worshipped with my eyes open that night because I found if I closed my
eyes I might miss something! Things would switch quickly. One moment we
would be singing and then there would be a brief drama or youth
performing a, Christian rap song in Spanish. A Mexican cowboy sang two
songs and scooted around the stage. One woman sang a slower song and
the lights turned off and fireworks shot into the air and the whole
time this was going on the crowd was growing. There must have been at
least 350 people there. The chairs were full and people were seated all
around a wall at the back of the parking lot. I turned around and there
were people standing on a hill behind the stage worshiping and dancing
some of which were out of view because of the darkness. Some people
along the outskirts stood still just watching the organized chaos of
the crusade, probably thinking how crazy it was. But I loved it and
soaked it all in because we were having fun and it was all about Jesus.
I couldn’t muffle my laughter as one of the pastors on stage got caught
up in the Spirit of worship during one of the songs and began spinning
around shaking the whole stage. He jumped higher than I knew a man his
size could and whooped and yelled. He was definitely
enjoying himself to the point he could barely contain his excitement.
At one point I turned to Neil and shouted over the music, “Is this a
party or a crusade? I can’t tell the difference!”

As my eyes scanned the audience my mind kept returning to the first
question my grandmother used to ask from my catechism when I was young.


“what is the chief end of man?
 To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

Bottom Left- Dennis sitting on the stage with the pastors”