So yesterday was Sunday which means that it was time for church. Up until now, our experiences with church had been merely as spectators and occasionally participators. It’s hard when you don’t know the language so a majority of the time during music you’re attempting to decipher what song it is and then try to sing whatever words you can in English and when the preaching begins it’s off to counting ceiling tiles. However, I did say “up until now” that was our experience.
This Sunday was different because we were issued a challenge for this service: we were supposed to run the whole thing. Worship, testimonies, a children’s service, prayer time, and preaching. The whole thing.
I know God is working on strengthening a gift of teaching in me, but now? I took the challenge without even thinking, but that doesn’t mean Satan didn’t attack my confidence up until my time in front of the church. I mean, I’m not speaking to an American youth group, anymore, which is what I’m used to. Not only is this an entire congregation, but it’s an entire congregation that speaks another language. Luckily the encouragement of my team and God’s voice through them was much louder than any insecurity I felt.
I was able to step up in front of the church with the confidence of my team, the gift of Damaris’
ability to translate, and a healthy confidence in my ability. While it was distracting at times to speak through someone else, I think it went well. I had 3 different talks prepared for whenever this opportunity came, but Saturday night, I ditched all those ideas and wrote a much simpler message. I decided that if I only have one message to share with a group, I want them to know the message of love.
The Bible is full of both healthy and unhealthy examples of love. We were able to look at a few examples of both, mostly in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15, it’s good stuff). The biggest question from this passage that I asked the church was, “What are you willing to forget in order to love unconditionally?”
My favorite passage I read though was 1 John 4. I’ve never really studied this passage but verse 12 says, “No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.” So for most of the world, we are the only picture of God’s love they may ever see. Imagine what would happen to all the perverted views of God if we loved people the way the father does in the Prodigal Son. Maybe what most of them need is a healthy picture of an unconditional love shown through us. Just a thought…
So next week we have the same challenge with the same church. Another week, another challenge. I love this opportunity and this ministry.
Side note: So it’s hard to find any alone time while on the World Race, and sometimes it’s needed. Often the only way to do it is to plug in the headphones and disappear in the middle of a group. Unfortunately, I ran into a problem when my iPod had technical difficulties. I’m not asking anyone to buy a new one, but if you have an old iPod that you wouldn’t mind parting with, send me an e-mail. Thanks for your support.
