Church on a jungle hill

I was given the huge privilege to go to one of the village churches to preach Sunday.  I am proud to announce the same God that rules over Abba's House is the same God here in Africa. Wow, the majesty of the King of kings, and Lord of lords! If every word from out of my mouth from now till eternity was praise to Him who saved me, I would still would not have said enough of His glory!

This village church was breathtaking! It was perched high on a hill. The proverbial light on a hill for all to see. It looked over the village below. It was a two year old brick building that used the very best of 1920's construction methods. When the bags containing the cement mix were empty, they became part of the structure. There were three rooms to the church. The main room is the size of many small churches. The other rooms still have a dirt floor and look more like herb gardens than cathedral floors.
The church was built to take advantage of the beautiful African weather. There are large windows open to each of three sides of the auditorium. The only thing lacking are the glass panes. When you worship here, you worship with all creation. I guess it is better to let bugs in than to keep the cool breeze out. In addition to the huge windows, there are missing bricks along each wall. At first I thought this might be a way of saving on building materials.  Then it hit me. This was an African ventilation system. Missing bricks allowed the air to flow through all the rooms. Genius!

Have I mentioned the amazing people of Africa? I was told to prepare to teach Sunday school, and to preach for the service. Well there is not much difference between Sunday school and church.  So I walked into the church and they had already started. I walked in and the pastor closed his Bible and motioned me to the front. I told him I didn't want to stop what he was doing.  "I can keep it till next time."  What humility. So I did Sunday school and it was followed by a 30 minute question and answer session. It was so clear there was such a desire and thirst to know the truth about God.  Already being moved by their desire for God, I should have known to buckle up for worship.  There were two African drums keeping time in the corner, four women and one man walked to the front of the room, and then it began. My soul erupted even before my ears picked up the tune. "Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus!" Standing against the wall listening to this familiar melody sang in an unfamiliar tongue, and look out over the majesty of the African landscape I heard a still small voice in my spirit, "Yes, I am truly God!" At that moment "Hallelujah" rang from the lips of the lead singer as if she too had heard God speak His eminence over this place.  After songs rang out over the countryside, the praying started!  Brother they cut loose!  God was magnified and lifted high on the lips of His people. No charismatic had anything on the prayers of these saints!  It was one of those times I prayed my preaching would not be a let down after that!