Church for All Nations

What would it look like if we could all worship together - people from all different languages and cultures?

I've seen this before a little at conferences, but never at a normal every-Sunday type of church service. I'm used to a church full of people who look just like me and share my culture and have the same taste of food/music/etc.

Yesterday, I went to church and experienced something TOTALLY different... and I loved it.

I attended The Church for All Nations just about 15 minutes down the road. I walked in and was greeted by a lady from Kenya. The worship team was comprised of people from Haiti, Nigeria, Kenya and Russia. The pastors were from India and Nigeria. Many people were wearing their country's native dress. The congregation was about half African: from the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, etc. Several of the Africans were recent refugees and didn't speak English. They had to have a man translate for them in their language, Kerundi.

When we sang, the pastor said, "We do not come to celebrate our cultures, but to celebrate Jesus. We are all one in Christ Jesus. We come in anticipation of every tongue, tribe and language celebrating around His throne."

We worshipped in Swahilli, Russian, French Creole. The best part was the "special music" (which the congregation really got into). A lady called out the main lyrics while some kids and another lady echoed -- "Thank You, Jesus" in Swahili... the whole song was in Swahili... they were swaying back and forth.... everyone was clapping... and some African ladies in the back were crying out in some kind of celebratory yell... the driving beat of the bongos and the complimentary beat of the beaded gourd. Everyone swaying, clapping, smiling and praising. I don't know what it was, but it was amazing. I felt like I was in Heaven.

Later on, we ate together... people had made foods from their home countries and we all shared the meal. I talked with a girl from India whose parents minister there to their own people, training in a Bible school, running a Christian elementary school. Our conversation really opened my eyes - hearing how her family has to be careful because of the law against "making converts." In her region, pastors are literally putting their lives on the line by doing their job.

I'm still trying to take it all in. I don't think I've accurately and fully described it.

We sang this... and I couldn't help but think of how true it is in my life:

Mungu ni mwema
Mungu ni mwema
Mungu ni mwema
ni mwema wangu

God is so good... He's so good to me!