Zambian Church

Oh how I love Sundays around the world! I love being in a church with fellow believers - and it doesn't matter where in the world I am, it is always encouraging! This morning my new friend, Chipo, joined at the hospital and we traveled together (taking 2 different buses, and walking part of it) to church. She goes to church at the University, so it was mainly a young crowd, but all very energetically praising the Lord as we walked in. Most of the songs were in the Zambian dialect, but because English is the official language here (most everyone can speak it, especially here in the capital), we also sang I Stand in Awe of You. It was beautiful.
And then, the first man to get up and speak grabs the microphone and says... "If you are not on twitter..." And really, who knows if anything was said after that, I was stuck on the first part. He says, "Who is not on Facebook? ...show of hands... Really friends? This is 2010!" haha. Even in Africa they are connecting through technology! And even in church they are using Facebook and Twitter! They go on to share the announcements of Bible study groups and scheduled outreaches. And then the man ends saying, "Kindly take note, advise all you know, and please find yourself there." It took me a minute to understand that he was telling all to remember what he shared, to invite others, and to show up!
One of the announcements shared was of the upcoming graduation of students from the College of Ministry. One of the professors shared that between now and graduation (the first weekend of November), each student, as the last requirement, must "win 10 souls to the Lord". How crazy and passionate must a group be to require soul-winning as a pre-requisite for graduation! It seriously challenged me. And then it continues... after the announcements a pastor gets up and delivers the message - it is on the connection to being "soul-winners" and the Gospel. Clearly those are connected. And then he goes on to quote probably about TEN of the memory verses from the Equipped Disciple curriculum I am doing through Watermark. It was like he had Todd Wagner's sermon notes from the other week!! He may not have given the "Bridge" illustration, but he most definitely knew the scripture that went along with it! And as soon as the pastor gets to the part saying, "greater is He that is in you than is in the world..." a man in a nice suit in the front row, who was sitting just a split second ago, is now karate kicking the air high above his chair! And other people in the church stood up, waved their hands, and a flood of "Praise God" and "Hallelujahs" were heard all around! I tell you what, that pastor was so encouraged, he kept going! Church was probably more than 4 hours long! (And according to others here, it could have been longer!) But I absolutely loved the message and was so encouraged by all the smiles and handshakes this morning. Zambians truly are a very friendly people! It was a great way to kick-start this coming week of work.