Salani Church of Christ

Sunday January 19, 2014

At the invitation of one of the deacons, we visited the Salani Church of Christ for the first time on Sunday. We drive by there from time to time, then several months ago, we saw that the tin roof had torn apart. Some of it had collapsed into the building, and some of it was lying in a twisted heap along the side. A huge rain and wind storm had blown through the community the night before, destroying some thatched roofs as well. 

As we walked around the lot surveying the damage, God began to put it in George's heart to help with the repair as an outreach to the community for the sake of the Gospel. 

Eventually, as we were working in a nearby village, a deacon from that church approached George, asking if we could possibly help. This was the contact we had been waiting for. 

The roof became a cooperative effort: the men of the church would provide the labor, and we would provide the beams, nails, and sheet metal. 

Weeks passed, then a few days ago, George received a request to come and address the congregation. So, this Sunday, George and I were warmly greeted with handshakes and singing as we entered and were seated with our interpreters on a cement bench behind the pulpit.  

The music was a combination of praise songs and hymns complimented by the rich African rhythms of a multi sized variety of goatskin covered drums and a well worn wood-framed tambourine.  After the music, the pastor turned to us smiling and announced, "We would like our visitors to know that our church loves to celebrate." 

 When George was invited to the pulpit, he read from Ephesians 4:1-7, where Paul instructs the church to care for one another and to encourage one another.  George told them how happy we were to see the fine work of repair that was done on their church, and that they now have a strong sturdy building to worship God in. "But, he said, " You as believers spend most of your time outside of this building. Many people have never experienced God's love and peace. When you leave this building, you ARE the church in this community. You can take His love and peace into your homes, into the markets, and into your fields. When two believers are working in the field together, you can give praise to God, have fellowship with one another, care for one another's needs, and pray for one another." The message was very well received. 

People were invited to the front of the sanctuary for prayer. One of the people who came forward was a Muslim woman. She said she has been  having family problems and that she was at the end of all she knows to do. Then she said, " I want Jesus Christ." George had the honor of praying with her to give her life and all her concerns to Jesus. It was beautiful.

The pastor then prepared the elements for distribution: two small plastic dishes for the bread and two small plastic cups for the juice.  Everyone would share a common cup. The bread was torn pieces of fried flatbread, and I am not certain what type of juice. But, at that sacred time as we were examining our hearts,  none of those details mattered. This was our first communion in Malawi.

My words are not adequate to describe the simple beauty of that service.