Tuesday, September 30, 2008

THE ELK CITY, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Pastor Johnson continues on his trip stories:

Jeff and Whitney plus most of our friends and children sponsors from Elk city, go to the United Methodist Church. So my first Sunday in Elk City,meant that i had to go visit their church. I was scheduled to make a presentation in the Sunday school class about sponsoring a child for education in Uganda. Education in Uganda is very expensive especially so, for orphans and poor children.
I had never gone to a methodist Church, so i didn't know what to expect. My friends kept assuring me all will be well. Jonathan sat next to me to help, in case i needed help.
The presentation went well in Sunday school, Jeff leads this Sunday school class. He was very supportive to make introductions and help me answer most of the question. I have talked with Jeff back and forth and he is very conversant with what goes on in Uganda and the needs of our community. We also presented a video, Tim was very helpful to set it up.
Right after, it was time for the main service. The main service in this church is divided up into two groups; one the ordinary service and the other is more traditional and is attended by the elderly mainly.
I think with our Uganda kind of worship i could fit in the ordinary service, besides all my friends attend this service, so i would have lots of company.
However, i was asked to give a few remarks why i was in Elk city in the Traditional service. Jeff introduced me and i talked briefly on how my relationship with the Smith family started and how we started the child sponsorship program with friends from San Antonio to help take the poor children in our community to school.
After this we joined the rest in the ordinary service. The worship was great. The word was encouraging. Pastor Carlos preached on having more of God's influence in our lives and being able to forgive those who wrong us.
We also took Holy communion, i was surprised to be invited to help serve the Lord's table. I am used to this our way, but Jonathan assured me that it is not any different.
I enjoyed the service, though it is much different from our service and worship back at home. We are used to the kind of worship where we shout a lot, clap and lift up hands; dance, jump up and down, sweat and raise a lot dust!
At the end of the service, i was asked to share with the church briefly about sponsoring a child in Africa. We presented the video and i did some more presentations and answered a few more questions. Again Jeff was very helpful.
Thank God at the end of the service more kids had received sponsorship.
For any question or remarks, you can reach Pastor Johnson at: jbakashaba@gmail.com

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