Colombia Journey Part 3

On Sunday we made it to church. After a weekend of the Festival with all of its commotion I was needing to spend some time with a group of believers. We found the Manizales Baptist Church.

The church is not particularly impressive looking, but there is a lot going on inside.
The worship service started with an extended period of singing contemporary praise songs. As you can see the praise time included a group of interpretive dancers. The songs were interspersed with prayer times and scripture readings.Everyone participated actively in the praise time, including seven year old Santiago.
Then came the offering. Interestingly, after the offertory prayer led by the pastor some of the elders of the church stood at the front with baskets and people came forward and placed their offerings in the baskets. By the way, the pastor's wife, is standing behind the pastor in the gray dress.
At one point a man who is supported by the church as a missionary among some indigenous people shared a brief testimony. He told a powerful story about how God had worked in his life.
The highlight of the service was the sermon by the pastor. He was articulate, biblical and actively engaged the congregation. I did not see anyone looking bored or sleeping.
We were wondering how things would work out for Charlotte since she does not understand Spanish. The pastor's wife enlisted July (pronounced Julie) to interpret. July spent several years growing up in California. She now works as an interpreter for several local companies.
The church has the practice of providing lunch for anyone that comes seven days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays they will have as many as one hundred stay for lunch.
The youth were having a good time while they waited for lunch to be served.

We were a bit concerned when we heard that the services usually last about three hours. Honesty, it did not seem long. We found ourselves engaged. It was a wonderful worship experience.

Visiting the church was a highlight for me. First, it was good to be with a fellowship of believers. Second, we met many beautiful people. Third, there were several people there whose lives have been radically transformed by the gospel. Finally, it was exciting to be a part of a dynamic church that is making a significant difference in the lives of people.

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Psalms 122:1

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:20