Sabbath...

I was in two completely different styles of churches on the Sunday. My morning started with about 3 hours in a church full of nationals. There were about 3000 of us there, they tell me. About half were in the building with me where the actual pastor, choir, instruments, etc. were. The other half were in a second building where the service is seen on screens. Yes they use video cameras and screens.

Aside from the rather bland metal building, the smell, the heat, and the wedding at the end it was pretty similar to a service in the states. There was a choir with robes, pastors with suits and ties, a keyboard, two saxophones, and some other instruments I couldn't see. The whole thing was in the local language. However I understood most of it (you are thinking I am really smart to have mastered the language this fast:). Actually they had a small wireless device I used to hear the service translated. Yup!!

I had to prepare myself; I had to remember that although I had some issues with what was happening, people were being reached (about 20 made professions that day). My friend who took me asked for my thoughts afterwards. I tried to be careful; as I did not want to insult him, I am so glad he goes somewhere. But I did share with him some struggles.

They are telling me now 10% -15% are "followers." I am concerned about the reproducibility of the place I attended. Especially in the countryside. The countryside is vastly different from the city. If three Americans were to tell what the US was like, which area would they choose to talk about? My perspective differs from Mark's in Baltimore, and Bethany's in California, and Cori's in Colorado. It is even more extreme here. Once my grandfather told me I was in three countries in 1 hour. I had been in the US, Canada, and Detroit. If I were to drive only a few minutes outside of this city, it looks like a different world. Even different parts of the city look this way.

The countryside could never afford: robes, suits, microphones, electricity, TV's, buildings, etc. If we estimate high there are about 5 million in the city; that leaves 65 million or so out in the country. How will they be reached? He was struck by my question, which I was glad to see. Other issues were relatively minor in comparison to this one. Sure there are questions of why were we singing worship songs to a newly married couple, how much of the funding for this comes from outside the country, where are all of the poor people, why did the translator not translate some words I understood in the local language, whose culture does this look like, his or mine? I could continue.

That night I met as the body. Eight of us sat together in a living room. We told a story from the book, sang together, had a meal together, and shared specific requests. There were still parts that are not reproducible, and parts that still need adjusting, but perhaps we are getting closer.

Is one right and one wrong? Are they just different? Which meets the needs of this place? There are so many questions! I hope some answers surface soon too!

By the way, not a single person said hi to me in the first event, unless my friend introduced them to me. Three thousand people, no friendly greetings…I really felt like I was in some places I had been in the states.