We have arrived!

Our hosts from Jubilee Centre and World Vision met us at the airport Saturday night, greeting us with warm hugs and joyful welcomes. “You are most welcome” is a phrase we’ve heard many times in the hours since we arrived.

This morning (Sunday), we split into three groups to worship at local churches in the George Compound, and the pastors and congregations alike greeted us with eager handshakes, hugs, broad smiles, and assurances that we were “most welcome.” During the services, we heard many prayers of thanksgiving for our presence. One leader said to the congregation: “Most of you never thought you’d sit in a room with brothers and sisters who traveled thousands of kilometers from the other side of the world just to worship the Lord alongside you.” The congregation stood and cheered, shouting “Amen” and smiling warmly at us. Another pastor prayed for our families. “Bless the families they left behind, Lord, and meet all of the needs of their families, accordingly to your great riches.”

The whole worship experience was one of unabashed joy. Songs, harmony, dancing, whooping, raised arms, syncopated moves. People danced as they came forward with their offerings, and danced in lines through the aisles afterwards. They also pulled us forward to the center of the building in order to dance with them, not content to let us be mere bystanders on the margins. They were there to share worship with us, to partner and engage with us, their “dear brothers and sisters,” they said.

Three of our own gave sermons: Paul Tshihamba, Tim Clark, and Dave Schwandt each spoke, aided by translators standing next to them. It was a powerful reminder of our unity in Christ as I watched people follow the sermon Scripture in their own Bibles, take notes in the margins, nod in the agreement to the same truths that touched my heart.

Several times, the pastor encouraged the congregation with this prayer: “May God meet you in your greatest need today.” He was always answered with shouts of “Hallelujah” and “Amen.” As we left, the final prayer I heard was one of thanksgiving: “We praise you, that you are the God that does not fail.”

Hallelujah and Amen!