Local worship
Today we were treated to worship that reelected the local evangelical heart. It was magnificent. The auditorium was filled with energy, faith hope and a longing for the Father’s heart. Whenever people worship in ways that are truly foreign to them worship is stiff. When we sing our songs, written from our hearts worship flows and as it flows I t communicates—that’s what we heard today.
Mennonite reflections:
As a new comer to this global Mennonite experience I definitely felt like a stranger in a strange land. I was reminded that:
§ Mennonite is not necessarily a welcome descriptor in Canada but it is definitely welcome and admired in most other places no the globe.
§ Within the Mennonite community Mennonite Brethren, my tribe I son one end of the spectrum. We are, I was reminded far more evangelical than Anabaptist in the grand scheme of things.
Community:
Community always builds bridges. I ate breakfast most days with a group of North Americans and Europeans. My roommate represented the only Mennonite church in Australia. I met a fellow who lived in the Mozambican village in which I helped to build a home. I visited with my Paraguayan pastor friends and renewed old acquaintances from seminary days. I ate Brazilian BBQ with friends from Edmonton and
Kitchener. I was asked more times than I can count if I speak Plautdeutsch. My Spanish improved drastically—from 5 words to 10.
I worship with some 60 other nationalities who all came together because of Jesus and the common belief that we need to take his message seriously. Jesus life, death and resurrection not only paved the way to heaven but also showed us how to live here on earth.
Global realities:
This morning I settled into worship beside a couple from Zimbabwe. I asked them how they enjoyed the conference. They said they have been very blessed because this is the first break they’ve had in over 10 years. They pastor a church of 1-1500 where they perform 4-5 funerals per week due to Aids and Cholera. I heard of others who were excited to be there because they actually get to eat 3 meals a day!
I was confronted once again by the need for those from the “have” countries to partner and build relationships with those in the “have not” countries. We have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as the broader population in these needy places.
Teaching:
Our speakers continually called for us to pick up the torch of diversity, injustice, peace and the eradication of global hunger and poverty. We were repeatedly challenged to embrace care for each other and our world. We were called to repent of our ways and our words BUT it was virtually always presented on a conceptual level. It seems that our global Anabaptist community fears getting to personal. I don’t know if it is an aversion to evangelical or charismatic overtones but there was little call to actually get on our knees and let the Holy Spirit do his work in our hearts so that we would be empowered to take the next practical steps in life and ministry. My head was challenged my heart was left relatively untouched. Is reflection on the condition of my heart or the type of teaching/preaching I’m used to? Not sure.
Summary
Am I glad I came to Paraguay? Absolutely. The strength of any event is the people—and I met great people. Cousins, fellow Calgarians and new friends from around the globe. As I type this I’m riding on the bus to the Chaco on which I have already met fellow Canadians with whom I have mutual friends. I will pass on contact info for some folks to connect in Vancouver and I will follow up on a friend I heard was struggling—only in Paraguay by the hand of the Father.
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