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Update from MCC Baltimore's
South Africa Team
We [Pastor David Smith, Mike Barnes and Debora Ruffin] have had two amazing days in South Africa with almost too many experiences to share with you.
Sunday, June 29
This morning we went to worship at Hope and Unity MCC in Johannesburg. At this service Mike and I were the only two whites. Pastor Paul led the service, but it very much brought to mind the verse from I Corinthians 14:26 -- What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Person after person came forward to lead the group in the most incredible acapella singing with harmonies, in prayers, in scripture readings, and in an exhortation. The service is conducted in several languages including Zulu and a smattering of English. We will be buying a small recorder to bring some of the sounds back with us. Debora commented that we have become so spoiled with our CD's and sound systems and may have lost the true focus of worship -- the presence of the Lord. Mike commented that he has never been in worship so truly focused on the person of God. I will have the honor of bringing a message to this congregation on July 13.
Please be in prayer for this congregation as they are in a time of upheaval. Pastor Nokuthula is scheduled for her surgery this week but currently is unable to walk or attend. Pastor Paul will be moving to London at the end of July, but their congregational leadership is inspiring.
Sunday afternoon we had a humorous trip from Johannesburg to Pretoria in Pastor Lizelle Stemmet's VW sedan with five large people and all our luggage.
At the evening service at Agallia Ministries Debora was the only black. There services are normally conducted in Afrikaans, the language of the white, formerly Dutch, minority. In our honor they used mostly English, but we noticed that in their conversations they went back into their native language. The puppets performed, and I preached a message of "Being the Light/ Shine." After service a group of the men in the church came back with us to the guest house for cake. Pray for this congregation. It seems God is calling them to reach outside themselves, into the community, but there is much fear.
Their slogan for the year is drawn from Romans 8:30 -- Called, Justified and Glorified.
Today Germa and her partner Rina came and took us around to see several of the non-profit organizations (NPO's) with whom they are involved. Germa is a former pastor of Agallia Ministries. Their organization, the Wolmer Community Project, provides training and capacity building assistance for many smaller, locally based organizations. Their guiding verse is "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother (or sister) in need but has not pity on him, how can the love of God be in him (or her)?" (1 John 3:17). We began the day in their office in a suburb of Pretoria where they are conducting a training class for 20 representatives from the NPO's, mostly in their 20's and from the townships, on preventing abuse. We were able to share our own testimonies and to sing and dance with
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