Hallelujah (Jabulani Africa)

The Church Tent

We like pictures with them. They like  pictures with us
It all works out quite nicely! 

Playing during communion.

I'm an honorary usher! See the name-tag?! 

Another amazing day here in South Africa. I feel bad for blogging so much, but there’s so much I just cannot NOT write about! I’d like to tell you about this Sunday morning, specifically. About twenty of us had the privilege of going with one our CLCs (Community Life Coordinators) this morning, Reagan Joseph, to a township about forty-five minutes outside of Maritzburg because he was preaching.

When we arrived there was a large white tent set up and there was music playing. That was around 10 AM, by the way. We were seated as a group in the very front row nearest the stage and closest to the large speakers that were blasting the music we had heard from outside. I had earplugs (as I always do), so I put them in immediately, but it was just too loud, and if my father has taught me anything, he has taught me to protect my ears. That being said, after one song, I headed to the back of the tent to stand near the doorway/tent opening. There were two female ushers, probably about my age, and as the music continued I started to make quick friends with them as we danced, shouted hallelujah and lifted up our hands to the Lord.

After about ten minutes of being in the back with them, one of the girls (Ntobe) pulled a nametag out of her purse and put it on my shirt. It said “Usher.” I’d been there less than twenty minutes and I had already been designated to usher and invite people in as they walked through the tent opening, one after the other (there were probably about 300 people under that tiny tent by the middle of the service). It was a BLAST and a BLESSING. Looking into people’s eyes, shaking their hands, and saying “God bless you” was something I could have done all day (or at least until my legs gave out). Anyway, the dancing and singing went on for about an hour and a half. Every time you thought it was over, you were wrong and a new song of praise, adoration, or victory broke out. The sound, as I’ve said multiple times before, is a sound like none other. The passion with which they sing and worship the Lord takes your breath away.

After worship a few of the APU students were invited up on the spot. One of them was my friend, Christa. She and the others were wonderful as they shared verses, shared parts of their lives, and shared a bit about what they’ve been learning over their short time here in South Africa. It was really amazing how each one’s comments added so much to the service as a whole. Also, the South Africans were quite excited to hear the sound of an “American accent.” After Reagan spoke, he asked me to come up and play piano as communion was taken. I sang a song he requested called, “Break Every Chain” (it’s a great one by Will Reagan and the United Pursuit, if you don’t know it), and as I sang the words, “There is power in the name of Jesus,” over and over again, the whole congregation sang along. I was reminded in this moment, once more, that the love of Jesus crosses all borders and allows people from all nations and all ethnicities to stand as one in the presence of the Lord who has united us together by His spirit. What a beautiful and supernatural thing that is. Enjoy the pictures and video :)

“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one.”

 John 17:22

Pictures thanks to my good friend, Christa :)