Worshiping Kenyan Style

I went with KO to Josephine’s church this past Sunday.  Josephine (an amazing Kenya women who trains nationals in transformational development and micro finance) was nice enough to pick us up and drive us to church.  On the way there I found our she would be visiting with her partners at WBC during their mission’s fest in October this year.  What a privilege it will be for the people at WBC to meet an African national who gets it. 

When we arrived at church we filed into the pastor’s office where we were introduced to the pastor and one of the elders.  We had a nice chat with the elders who explained that he had been a geography teacher before retiring and therefore knew where both Wheaton and Atlanta were.  He also had been to Atlanta because his son is currently working there.  I knew I instantly liked him when he made a joke about not being tired even though he had retired and he stayed true to his word giving off tons of life. 

As the service began we ended up on the stage along with the rest of the elders. There were a few congregational songs, prayers by two members, which is one of the things I love about African churches (they open it up for the body to share or pray), and then they went into a time of song I had only heard about before. Each of the Sunday School levels got up to perform three songs.  There must have been 10 groups from the youngest ones all the way through to the ladies and then the men. I was most impressed by the dance moves they added, only repeating one move between all of the groups.  I loved the women’ songs especially because they really sang from the heart.  The video below gives you an idea of the music and Kenyan life.

After the music was over there were announcements and KO and I were asked to bring a word.  Following the offering the children were dismissed and we all went down to the benches for the sermon.  Josephine spoke and a gentleman translated for us.  As the sermon concluded we joined the elders at the door of the church to greet everyone as they filed out and followed suit.  Once we had shaken the hands of each member we headed back to the pastor’s office to officially meet the rest of the elders.    

As we left the church and headed for the car I noticed each age group forming a circle in the grass discussing and planning for the week’s meetings.  It was wonderful to see the fellowship of the people of the church.  As Josephine dropped us off she asked for our emails and promised to keep us posted on what God was doing in the ministry of Hope for Life.  I look forward to the reports of His work here in Kenya and in other African countries as God takes Josephine to share the message of transformational development through Jesus Christ.