Yes, we've been here almost a year, but have put off the 'opening' until our land was officially ours. After a difficult sales process, peppered with much prayer, negotiation and generosity from so many, the title deed was handed to us a month ago.
In celebration, we started the church year off with the dedication of our property in true African style with food, music and laughter.
Our Sth African guest, Grant Dryden ('Farming God's Way') spoke in the morning service with a strong challenge to faithfulness.
We then had lunch together, hosting a number of visiting pastors and friends from other churches in the area, followed by communion, which they helped lead.
People from 17 nations represented in our congregation, prayed a dedicatory prayer in their own languages, highlighting not only the beautiful diversity of our faith in both ethnicity and expression of worship, but the unity of the Body as expressed in the sharing of the one loaf and one cup.
We had games and competitions for both kids and grown-ups; the latter being a dessert event ("Sugar with a Message") where people were judged not only on looks and taste, but the message they intended to convey through their dessert.
In celebration, we started the church year off with the dedication of our property in true African style with food, music and laughter.
Our Sth African guest, Grant Dryden ('Farming God's Way') spoke in the morning service with a strong challenge to faithfulness.
We then had lunch together, hosting a number of visiting pastors and friends from other churches in the area, followed by communion, which they helped lead.
People from 17 nations represented in our congregation, prayed a dedicatory prayer in their own languages, highlighting not only the beautiful diversity of our faith in both ethnicity and expression of worship, but the unity of the Body as expressed in the sharing of the one loaf and one cup.
We had games and competitions for both kids and grown-ups; the latter being a dessert event ("Sugar with a Message") where people were judged not only on looks and taste, but the message they intended to convey through their dessert.
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