As I was sitting in church waiting for the interpreter to say his part of the service, I was struck by the differences in American and African services.
The focus is still on Christ and the Gospel and fellowship, but all is not the same. I thought I'd take this newsletter to share a few of the contrasts.
Languages - Instead of a short service where an eye is kept on the time, our service is lengthened because of the multiple languages we use to worship (typically two hours). We also provide an inter-preter for preaching.
We sing in English, Lugisu (Uganda's national language)
and Swahili (East Africa's trade language-spoken as a 1st lang-
uage by 11 million people and as a 2nd language by 120 million).
Because LivingStone is an international university both in its student body
and its staff, we have at times also used French, Hindi and the languages of other countries around us.
Comfort - Because of varying degrees of weather in the US most churches are shut up tight to keep the controlled air inside the building. Then once inside, people sit on ergonomically designed pews, sometimes with padding, to make sure everyone is as comfortable as they can be.
Here in Mbale, doors and windows are flung open to create a cross-breeze and we run ceiling fans. This is especially welcome when the temperatures hit the high 80's and 90's on a regular basis, though unfortunately it also makes it easier to hear the noise of the traffic coming from the road.
Our seating is benches that have been locally made out of metal frames with planks of wood laid across the bottom for the seats and across the top for back support. Because of the metal, they are lightweight and can be easily moved which is good since it is used as a multipurpose building.
Communion - In the US we typically sit and wait while trays of crackers and juice are passed to us. In Mbale, we go to the table to partake of the fresh flatbread and the juice instead.
We have found that the physical act of getting up and walking to the table actually helps to focus our thoughts on what we are doing, which is remembering what Jesus has done for us. The table is the gathering point, just as it was when Jesus initiated the Lord's Supper.
Childcare - Churches go to great lengths in the US to ensure the safety of their children, as they should. Since Africa is more community oriented, tiny children wander inside and out with their mom or auntie or an older sibling keeping a watchful eye out for them. Or, some parents will sit on the steps of the porch that leads to a field where the children can safely walk around until they are old enough to join in Sunday School with the older kids.
