Joyful and dance-filled worship lofted heavenward from the open-walled building in the bush. Rain could no more hinder this church’s Sunday morning gatherings as we celebrated and dedicated another “Church in A Day” project with a visiting team. Pastor Jim shared an edifying word, building up the pastora (female pastor) of the church. The young group has much to learn, but their leader, Mai Fatima, is fervent in spirit and love toward the community. She sees and knows the love of the Father; her heart and thoughts continually set on Jesus, her perfect Savior.
Following the service, the church members sat in the church while the missionary team served them lunch. This act is very backwards in this culture where typically the host serves the visitors with great honor. Gratefulness and hopeful anticipation for what God would do rested in the building.
Once it was all over, church members prepared to return back to their huts. The visiting missionaries began cleaning up, loading plates and giant pots into the trucks. Then something incredible and unexpected happened. Mai Fatima sang and Katherine, from Faith Tabernacle, played the guitar to the hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” It was one of those holy moments that makes you stop in your tracks. You hardly want to breath, soaking in the present while desperately hoping you never lose the power of the moment to the thief of time. It wasn’t the unrefined singing or the simple plucking guitar, figuring out the key as they went. It was the Holy Spirit, who dripped off each note, just setting up camp under that tin roof. Others chatted and busily continued packing up to leave, unaware of the substance of heaven which had descended. Even now while writing this, I am filled with a reverent awe for what took place that day in the bush.
Shortly after the song ended, the glory fell, electrifying missionaries and Mozambicans alike. In the end, only a few were forced to the ground, but we know God had His way. While the few writhed on the ground, laughing and crying in syncopation, Mai Fatima preached it up, telling the crowd that had gathered, “Their problems are gone! Their sadness is gone! Its just joy from Jesus!” She explained that The Lord is doing His work—they are not crazy. Curious faces looked on until some drew the courage to come forward for prayer to receive the same thing.
We live and labor for this manifestation: to see God work beyond our plans and set order. We feel most accomplished when we have no role to play—He’s in full control and we just get to sit back and watch. Join us in praying that God would continue pouring out His Spirit, bringing revival to Savane and the neighboring villages. We don’t want this to be a one-time occurrence, but the first small stones that start an avalanche. He is so good and so faithful; Jesus knows how to do it right!