church in africa

i have been to church in africa three times so far (well, if you don't include ward church services).

the first church i attended was a small church and very african. acapella music with dancing and lots of clapping. the building was just bare walls and a precariously done tin roof, wooden benches, some not looking sturdy enough to hold anyone much less the 10 people crammed onto it. we mercy shippers were given special treatment and seated up in the front next to the pastors and only 2 to a bench. the service was a couple of hours long and had several different messages as well as 4 different offering times. a couple that i went with were honored by the church since they had been recently married. i was asked to pray for the country of liberia during the prayer time. and afterwards, we were invited to eat with the church. while we had one bowl of rice and green leaf soup between 5 of us, they shared the same amount of food between quite a lot more people.

the second church i attended was probably close to 300 or 400 people and held in a "compound" and was very much like attending church at home. the building itself was very westernized, the benches were solid with backs, there was a worship band that sang praise choruses and the pastor's teaching time was limited to 30-40 minutes. there was also a slide show of announcements showing in the background. no calling on of visitors to teach or pray. no after church meal.

the third church i attended today was still very westernized but not like a church i've attended in a while. it was a baptist church and much like attending my grandfather's church. more traditionalistic. hymns only and the music as the hymns were written and not the new more praise chorus like way of singing them. very correct order of service. my friend eric would have appreciated the welcome time...i think i shook hands with almost everyone there (close to 100-150). and everyone kept singing until everyone had done their welcoming. the teaching time here as well was limited. the building was also very westernized, stained glass windows, solid benches with backs, oscillating fans for comfort. (those were standard desk units 16in across and mounted to the walls at regular intervals!)

i do appreciate the familiarity of the second two church services. but i also enjoyed experiencing african church the first time. hopefully i'll make it back before we leave liberia.