Under the Stars (Believer's Meeting)
“He determines the number of the stars and He calls them each by name…” Psalms 147:4
We weren’t exactly sure what was meant by “Believer’s Meeting” when the Pastor explained the evening event we would participate in. What we did know, was we would be having dinner with his brother S and his family afterwards. We soon learned the meeting would be at S’s home. We arrived a little later than the start time of 6:00. We were escorted up the stairs by S’s children who heard our arrival. Once inside we only saw Pastor P and S’s father seated in the center of the room, maintaining his balance with a cane. Not much of a meeting but perhaps people had yet to arrive.
After our introductions, serenades of Happy Birthday by one of the children on the guitar, Pastor P said “shall we begin?” We were once again led by the children through a small corridor that opened onto a huge second story veranda. There under a cloudless sky were gathered around 65 of the faith. They were seated on mats, shoes off, eyes closed and singing praises to the Lord under whose night canopy they enjoyed. It was wonderful.
Our devotion time covered the
recent persecution experiences of A in Sri Lanka and my time in China. I used my tiny army soldiers to illustrate feeling the odds are against us. I reminded our brothers and sisters great victories may come and then be followed by a season of feeling abandoned like God’s servant Elijah.
When it was over Pastor P shook his head in typical Indian agreement and said. “Oh, they shall never forget this, they will remember you always.” A faced imprisonment, I witnessed a wounding of a soldier in battle, but the reality of the persecution facing those we were meeting with is often swift and severe. I was humbled. We prayed for them and we praised with them.
As hands were raised in praise, I could only think of our Creator watching and delighting in the worship of His children, some far from home, and perhaps through persecution some coming home to Him soon.
We weren’t exactly sure what was meant by “Believer’s Meeting” when the Pastor explained the evening event we would participate in. What we did know, was we would be having dinner with his brother S and his family afterwards. We soon learned the meeting would be at S’s home. We arrived a little later than the start time of 6:00. We were escorted up the stairs by S’s children who heard our arrival. Once inside we only saw Pastor P and S’s father seated in the center of the room, maintaining his balance with a cane. Not much of a meeting but perhaps people had yet to arrive.
After our introductions, serenades of Happy Birthday by one of the children on the guitar, Pastor P said “shall we begin?” We were once again led by the children through a small corridor that opened onto a huge second story veranda. There under a cloudless sky were gathered around 65 of the faith. They were seated on mats, shoes off, eyes closed and singing praises to the Lord under whose night canopy they enjoyed. It was wonderful.Our devotion time covered the
recent persecution experiences of A in Sri Lanka and my time in China. I used my tiny army soldiers to illustrate feeling the odds are against us. I reminded our brothers and sisters great victories may come and then be followed by a season of feeling abandoned like God’s servant Elijah.When it was over Pastor P shook his head in typical Indian agreement and said. “Oh, they shall never forget this, they will remember you always.” A faced imprisonment, I witnessed a wounding of a soldier in battle, but the reality of the persecution facing those we were meeting with is often swift and severe. I was humbled. We prayed for them and we praised with them.
As hands were raised in praise, I could only think of our Creator watching and delighting in the worship of His children, some far from home, and perhaps through persecution some coming home to Him soon.
