Praise, Worship And Believe...Teleios Africa 2007

Day 16…What A Day Of Rejoicing This Was!



The Baptist Church in Mbeya has three choirs that praise God through singing and dancing during the worship service.



The choir's song about witnessing to the lost and celebrating when Jesus returns was a perfect lead-in for Floyd's message, 'Believe The Gospel.'




The morning began with an invigorating cold shower. That was just the beginning of an unbelievably worshipful and refreshing day in the Lord.

The morning worship service at Baptist Church in Mbeya, Tanzania, was one of the most joyful and meaningful worship services that I have experienced. Its pastor, the Rev. Mwasifiga, is a strong and humble servant. He started the church in a small one-room house, and today it is one of the largest Baptist churches in Tanzania.

The church has three choirs—they were the best African choirs I have ever heard. The first choir leads in local traditional tribal songs in the native language and dance. The second choir leads by incorporating contemporary African music with dance from different tribal groups. The energy that these two choirs bring to worship is unbelievable. I videoed some of their performances, but the video does not do justice to the quality of their music and the joy of their spirit. The third choir is formed from married men and women (they are also a little older). While my heart was with the other two choirs, my body would definitely have to be with the third choir.

At one point in the service, the pastor called forward all the students having exams over the next week. I had the privilege of praying for them as they prepare for and take their exams.

The offering time of the service was a very public affair. Two ladies, each having a sisal braided basket, received the offering – one basket was for the building fund and the other was for the general offering. We all danced and sang our way to the front to give our offerings.

I had hoped to send you pictures of some of the early part of the service, but two things happened. One, the choir moved so fast that my camera could not keep up and the pictures were blurred. Two, while singing, the choir jumped so high that I have the choir without heads. But, again, I can’t wait to show the videos.

The choirs sang just before I preached. The song was a powerful one about witnessing to the lost ending with a celebration of the joy of the redeemed when Jesus returns. I cannot express the feeling that I had when I stepped into the pulpit. Frank Mwaisumbe translated my message on “Believe the Gospel.”

At the end of the worship, the pastor, Frank, Mpeli and I went outside to greet the worshippers. What I saw next really amazed me. After we greeted the worshippers, they joined our line. The greeting line ended up including all the worshippers. By the time everyone was out of the church, there must have been 300 or more people in the line.

After lunch, we traveled to the highlands area toward the Zambia and Malawai border. We met with one of our partners in Daily Bread Life, the Rev. Pawde Scout. He led us on a tour of the Southern Highlands all the way to the Malawai border. We greeted pastors, visited schools and families.

At Lake Malawai, we purchased local trout to take back home. In order to keep them refrigerated, the fish were tied to the front of the Nissan Patrol. The cool air keeps the fish fresh. You should have seen the border police laughing and looking at us as we passed a police checkpoint—fish on each side of the front grill and bumper.

What a day this has been. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and partnership in the Gospel.



Each participant in the worship service helps form the greeting line as they leave the church.





No ice chest? No problem...keeping the fish refrigerated is easily remedied by tying them to the front of the car.