The Uniting Church was near our caravan park and there was a small group of people who met for worship. A Frontier Services pastor was leading, in the absence of the regular minister, and I was the lone male. It was a comfortable and welcoming environment where visitors were over half the total worshippers. One other visitor had been to Africa a number of times with Medicin sans Frontiers. Having recently read "The Heart of Darfur" by Lisa French Blaker it was interesting to chat with one of the team who had been there before her. While each persons perspective and experience is different the perseverance and quiet suffering of the people remains a common theme.
I was taken by an image which seemed to be the mission statement of this small congregation. It was good, but there seemed to be something missing.Tom Price
After some quieter times of worship it was a bit of a shock to be in a congregation were children and adults were present in equal numbers. 26 adults and 26 children worshipped at the Baptists on SAO Sunday. In this tradition SAO meant 'Save an Orphan', and has morphed into 'Share an opportunity'. During the service it was good to learn that at least l0 children were being sponsored by families in this congregation. Here was a lively, noisy, active, connected congregation that had a quiet focus beyond themselves.
I was reminded of the orphans and urchins of Mbeya, of kids who hang around the markets and mothers who sit patiently trying to sell some fruit or vegetables to feed, clothe and educate their children. Child sponsorship makes a difference, but the needs remain great.
Exmouth
Where the range meets the reef we worshipped with the Exmouth Christian Fellowship. There were many children present, and the service was largely led by the lay people. I confess to being surprised that the pastors were an older couple (recognition of two birthdays indicated that the sixty mark had already been left behind) and confess that I was not sure what to expect as the message bega. At the end I left with food for thought and a bit of a challenge. Perhaps I should not be surprised about the people God uses. Personal and practical life experiences were used to illustrate Scripture - in a very sound, straightforward, and helpful message.
The idea that David learned to trust God through his parents was not new, but the contribution of his working environment to his faith development had not been given enough attention. Perhaps it was the naming of those barren hills as his place of work, and as a hostile place, that emphasised it. Or it may have been the connection with our own hostile and uncomfortable working environments that drove it home. Yet in those environments we can, and must, trust God for safety, protection and wisdom. Thanks to Pastor Linda for that reminder.
