The Faithful Church

 

Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

Psalms 47:4

One of my goals when coming to Swaziland was to choose one church that every Sunday I would really try to invest in and become apart of. It was something I struggled with while in JBay and I found myself going back and forth between services every week. There was just never one I felt comfortable enough in so here I made that a goal.

My church is called The Faithful Church of Jesus Christ. It is in a small dilapidated building in the middle of Mangwanana; a squatter camp. The music is basically the beats that are already programmed to a keyboard when you buy it except turned up so loud that you can’t even hear yourself think. Most of the time the service is in SiSwati so you have absolutely no idea what is going on and it is suppose to start at 11 but people never seem to enter until at least 11:30. The air is usually smelly, dusty and hot, the chairs are uncomfortable and they always force one of us to go to the front and either sing a song or embarrass ourselves in one way or another. On paper it would seem like a horrible Sunday morning but for some reason I am absolutely in love with it.

I love the fact that so much joy and praise can be found in such a small broken place. It is a light to the community in so many ways. The squatters camp, like much of Swaziland, is a dark place that is plagued with alcohol, drugs, and sexual immorality. The camp is an area of extreme poverty not helped by the fact that the only reason people live there is because they can’t afford to own any land so they “squat” until the government makes them leave. Many people have given to begging as a way of life and some even search daily for food in the dump that is nicely situated across the road. It is visibly a broken place that so clearly needs the love of Christ and this little church strives to bring that to the people. There is a small service by Pastor Sambo every single night of the week and one big one on Sunday mornings. The hands and feet of Christ extend from the doors of the church in hopes of wrapping around and pulling in as many people as they can.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14

 

I also love the loud ghetto music that blasts from the speaker hooked to the keyboard. When going to church in Africa one of the things you will notice is that they love to play their music really loud. You can hear it almost as soon as you enter the camp vibrating off of the stone blocks most of the shacks are made out of. It’s just so funny because they keyboard player will start the beat after a go-go starts a song and then they will play a few notes along with the music. It’s like no matter how slow the song is it still has to have a fast beat. The singing is also so beautiful. There are two microphones and usually one of the kids will steal one and sing to the music at the top of their lungs praising God with all of their hearts. They also love to dance and that is something I am going to miss immensely back at home. They just always seem to be moving as if the joy of the Lord takes over their whole bodies when they sing and they have to move as well.

O clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Psalms 47:1

Most of all I love the kids. They are the same kids I work with twice a week at the care point so I am getting to know them really well and starting to love them so much I am already dreading leaving. Last Sunday we got there at about eleven and for almost a half hour the only adults in the whole church were the five of us, the keyboard player, and the singer but yet all of chairs were filled. Honestly, every chair was filled with a smiling joyful kid and it was the absolute most beautiful thing to witness. They are so willing and wanting to praise God and sing at the top of their lungs to every song. Their joy is infectious whether they are dancing around and waving little flags or sitting on your lap and clapping your hands together. I think besides their singing I also love when they share their testimonies for the week. It goes like this (in SiSwati): Sawubona, I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ. My name is Londi and I love the Lord very much. My memory verse is Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I want to be a teacher. Every Sunday it is the same thing except with a different verse.  

Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them. Mark 10:15-16

Please pray for my little church. Pray that people would start to recognize the hope found in what is offered there and that they would start to go. We have done some house visits in the camp and are inviting everyone we can so pray they will come even if it is just from pure curiosity. Pray for the kids, for their safety and their families and that they would always find the same joy in church that they do now. Really just pray whatever the Spirit leads you too and expect an answer.

Singing Praises,

Jillian