Church service at Ibungilo
I went to church at Ibungilo yesterday, our "church on the hill." This is the first Independent Baptist Church that Greg Wagoner started in the area over a decade ago. It is now indigenous and also home of the bi-yearly Bible college.
I stopped to pick up some neighbors, but was disappointed... no one showed up at our designated corner. I ended up giving three girls a ride to their church at the bottom of the hill. Showing up at 10am at Ibungilo there were only a handful of people in the building.
The adult Sunday school started shortly thereafter. A Bible college student, Phineas, is teaching through the book of Numbers. Different people were asked to read the chapter a paragraph at a time with Phineas explaining each section. We looked at how God honored the daughters of Zelophehad's request for land; God told Moses it was his time to be "gathered unto his people"; Moses' request for a leader to replace him; and God's announcement that Joshua was to be the next leader. I probably got about 40-50% of what Phineas said (Sunday school and the morning service are all in Swahili). Mwili, another Bible college student, asked if it was God's desire to give women a portion of inheritances today. There was quite a bit of discussion. Unfortunately I didn't catch their conclusion! :-)
After 10 or so minutes of "milling around," the morning service started. We sang several songs out of a Swahili hymn book, then a couple "pambios"- African praise songs. The choir sang...
...then two solos. After the offering, we sang one more song, slow and worshipful to prepare our hearts for the message. Mchungaji (Pastor) Delphinus preached from John 21. Again, I didn't catch all of it, but I know he talked about loving God. Peter and the disciples were told to wait in Galilee for the Savior. After awhile Peter decided to go fishing. "Are you faithfully doing what God has asked of you, or have you strayed?" Mch Delphinus asked. Also, after reading the account where Jesus asks Peter three times if he loved Him, we were challenged to examine our own love for the Savior.
At the invitation, 8 or 10 people came forward to pray. I love it that there seems to be no fear to come forward in this group of believers here in Mwanza. At almost every invitation (no matter what Independent Baptist church I'm visiting) people kneel before their Lord without shame.
After the invitation there was a brief announcement time, a song and greeting circle (where everyone shakes everyone's hand), and a prayer.
By this time it was 1pm and I was getting hungry. :-) There was another meeting after the service, but I decided to leave. I dropped 3 kids off at their home and an older lady, Magdalena. I had no idea just how far away her home was before I agreed to take her home! I finally made it home at 2. :-)