First, we are floored by the amount of people who follow the blog. Thanks for checking out our adventure. It's Easter weekend here so I'll express my thoughts on this moment for us. To my unchurched friends...you know this is a significant part of our lives so grunt and bare it for a moment. Being in a Muslim country has not effected/affected our lives or our faith. Luckily, we are in a tolerant country compaired to the surrounding area, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc...
The issue is The Church. There is a compound that houses 30 churches at different times of the week. These are Christian however 98% are in another language. We visited one church meeting on Friday (church day here). No thank you! Ed I apologize for ever complaining about the length of the service and how the kids and volunteers suffer. Friday church - 2hours! And they cant figure out why no one volunteers to serve with the kids. Then we found a home church on Thursdays. 1hour 1/2 we sit through starting at 7:15ish pm. We celebrated Easter on Thursday at this home church with about 50 others. So Christ has already died and risen this week so we get to sleep in on Sunday. Now it's spring break here for two weeks.. We attend a small group in our village. Great people but the curriculum, ugh! We read through a Bible story THREE times before discussing it. Marcia, I apologize for ever complaining about small group. We actually shared with them our struggle to adapt to the church - well you know my woman how she expresses herself - she went off on a 20min tirade about the curriculum. Luckily, we were still invited back. I never thought church would be the stress in my life. All this to say - pray for us. Im grateful there is a Church here and blessed we are not percecuted like neighboring countires. But im not content to be where i dont feel comfortable inviting unchurched friends. Its a social club for Christians if the church is satisfied with talking church lingo and persistent on everyone "knowing" their Bible and every story it holds before learning how to honor God with struggles of everyday life. Do i pull a Martin Luther (16th Century), go rogue and start something new? Or do we work side by side with the good people here who have passionate hearts to worship the only way they have learned how? Why didnt MLuther work from the inside out? Oh yes, they kicked him out. We need a "church for the rest of us" in the UAE. You know me ill buck the system but I'm asking for wisdom to do what's right and honor God with our actions. There are SO many ways we could help the church here but...I keep coming back to; what about the unchurched? - Jeff
If you don't think you can reach the unchurched by inviting them to what's available now then start your own church. The CCC UAE campus! You can do it! Go Jeff!
ReplyDeleteLove you!
I believe it all comes back to relationship. Pray for wisdom, share your heart for the unchurched with the folks/leadership at that church as GOD prompts you to do so and your burden/desire to invite them to a seeker-friendly place. Thinking of the Scriptures how Peter was resistant at first to the idea of spreading GOD's word to the Gentiles/later messy conversations with Paul as well as the centurion and others to Peter to help him understand as an example- start with the existing church. It may be that you are also there to plant a seed in that direction and cast vision- if not, then pray and go rogue as GOD directs you. Just my two-cents. In the meantime, if you have unchurched folks that you are trying to develop a relationship with there, I'd love to pray for GOD to work in their hearts and in yours and Jamie's words and actions as they see the love of CHRIST through you. Message me their names and I will pray for them daily. I have my post-it ready. love you both - so incredibly proud for both of you!
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