Church

 (the choir)

The first Sunday we were in Zambia we went to a church in Livingstone. The church was large – 150 adults and 98 children. Going to church was our first experience hearing something interpreted as a person is speaking. You hear everything twice. 

The Sunday we were there, 10+ people confessed Jesus as their Savior and 6 were baptized. During the service, all of the visitors were introduced by the people who had invited them. And those who wanted to know more about Christ were able to step outside with the person who invited them or the person who led their small group. 

This church was a bit “westernized.” They sang hymns and ran the service like we Americans would be familiar with, but there was certainly a taste of African culture. All of the choir specials were done in their language, the women sat on one side and the men on the other, and, of course, the sermon was in English and their language. 

The pastor of the church was a man from the Philippines who had lived in Livingstone for 15 or 16 years. He started the church soon after he first arrived. He and his family (wife and 4 children) live next to the church. They have a school for young men and a preschool. They welcomed us into their house one evening by serving us dinner and talking with us until late at night. This family has been back to the Philippines twice since they’ve lived in Zambia. Twice – to see their family, their church, and their home country.

This reminded me of a conversation I overheard between 2 men. The one mentioned how missionaries in the 1800’s were sometimes known to pack their belongings in a coffin and take that with them to whatever country they were going to. What commitment! The older man commented, “Shouldn’t all Christians have that kind of commitment?”

Please pray for those who came to a saving knowledge of Christ that Sunday. Also pray that the pastor and his family would be strengthened by God to continue the work that He has called them to do. Lastly, remember that we are all called to follow Christ and to be committed to Him wherever we live. 

(the children's choir)