Go Ye Therefore....
When my parents told me to do something multiple times, or I tell my daughter many times to do something, it must be important.
It is recorded at the end of Matthew and Mark's Gospels and at the begining of Luke's history of the early church, that Christ tells his followers to "go and make disciples." Now I would assume that this wasn't a mere suggestion, but a command. And to the Church's credit through the empowering of the Holy Spirit she still follows his words.
This past Sunday we worshipped at Karen Community Church. Both Mary Sue and I were expecting an "anglo" church, but were surprised that it was comprised of a vast majority of native Kenyans. What we found was a worship service very much like what one finds in many evangelical churches in the States. The Kenyans were mainly professionals and would fall into what we would call a middle-class. Not at the same economic level, but with some of the same securities, comforts, and abilities.
We sang, what was referred by a guest at ISAR that we met as, "off the wall." I kind of like this phrase as it can be taken so many ways. In this instance it meant that the words were projected on the wall. I guess in other instances it could mean something quite different.....
The church was having a group of individuals baptized after the service. The baptisms were going to happen at a training center for the Kenyan Central Bank down the street from the church because they have what is required for immersion-style baptism--a large container of water, in this case a swimming pool.
Most of those seeking baptism were young people who had been converted as children or more recently. However, one man in his early twenties did not fit this mold. He was convert from Islam from a region north of Nairobi near Somalia. The church had a mission in that region and this man was being baptized in Nairobi for his own safety. His life is likely in danger as his converting from Islam is risky. I have shielded his face for this reason.
For some of you reading this it may seem odd that I've done this or you may wonder why he converted. I think this is one of the things that is difficult for us in the States to understand. We live in a land where our faith does not put us at odds with many folks, and likely if we are at odds it tends to be for our political perspectives that have, at times, been improperly attached to our religious beliefs--as if they were the gospel. Generally, we are not challenged in our Christian faith as so many Christians are around the globe.
If one is interested in understanding more about the persecuted Church abroad, here is a link that highlights several legitimate organizations that have worked for years regarding this issue.
Open Doors
The records of this organization are housed in the Wheaton College Special Collections.
It is recorded at the end of Matthew and Mark's Gospels and at the begining of Luke's history of the early church, that Christ tells his followers to "go and make disciples." Now I would assume that this wasn't a mere suggestion, but a command. And to the Church's credit through the empowering of the Holy Spirit she still follows his words.
This past Sunday we worshipped at Karen Community Church. Both Mary Sue and I were expecting an "anglo" church, but were surprised that it was comprised of a vast majority of native Kenyans. What we found was a worship service very much like what one finds in many evangelical churches in the States. The Kenyans were mainly professionals and would fall into what we would call a middle-class. Not at the same economic level, but with some of the same securities, comforts, and abilities.
We sang, what was referred by a guest at ISAR that we met as, "off the wall." I kind of like this phrase as it can be taken so many ways. In this instance it meant that the words were projected on the wall. I guess in other instances it could mean something quite different.....
The church was having a group of individuals baptized after the service. The baptisms were going to happen at a training center for the Kenyan Central Bank down the street from the church because they have what is required for immersion-style baptism--a large container of water, in this case a swimming pool.
Most of those seeking baptism were young people who had been converted as children or more recently. However, one man in his early twenties did not fit this mold. He was convert from Islam from a region north of Nairobi near Somalia. The church had a mission in that region and this man was being baptized in Nairobi for his own safety. His life is likely in danger as his converting from Islam is risky. I have shielded his face for this reason.
For some of you reading this it may seem odd that I've done this or you may wonder why he converted. I think this is one of the things that is difficult for us in the States to understand. We live in a land where our faith does not put us at odds with many folks, and likely if we are at odds it tends to be for our political perspectives that have, at times, been improperly attached to our religious beliefs--as if they were the gospel. Generally, we are not challenged in our Christian faith as so many Christians are around the globe.
If one is interested in understanding more about the persecuted Church abroad, here is a link that highlights several legitimate organizations that have worked for years regarding this issue.
Open Doors
The records of this organization are housed in the Wheaton College Special Collections.
posted by David Malone at 8:34 PM
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