Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Heb 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day
approaching." NIV
After a somewhat rocky start in my career as a relief missionary in Haiti, I was
now beginning to enjoy reaching out to the native population, and as the first
weekend approached, I began to look forward to my first visit to a Haitian
church service. I decided to try to get to church early, but when I arrived 10
minutes before the service was to begin, I was flabbergasted to see that every
seat was already taken! In fact, people were standing against the wall on both
sides, as well as in the back. All of the windows were wide open, and huge
crowds were standing next to each window. But what amazed me the most was that
although all of these people were dirt poor, somehow they had managed to obtain
fancy clothing for this weekly event! Coming from a home church where on a good
day 30 people attend and there were ALWAYS empty seats, the obvious hunger these
people had for God's Word was astounding!
There wasn't a microphone in the church, but it didn't matter. The audience sat
(or stood!) in rapt attention, focusing their full attention on the service.
Even the children sat perfectly still, intently listening to each word of the
speaker. And you should have heard them praise God! Most of them had little
material wealth or security to praise Him for, yet they saw the fact that they
could attend church freely as a reason for ultimate praise. It was obvious to
anyone that these people lived to go to church. To skip would have been
unthinkable! It was their highlight of the week, an event not to be missed!
Reflecting back on this, I often wonder why church attendance is so different in
North America. Why are we, as members, so eager to skip whenever the opportunity
arises? Some even neglect the assembly of the saints all-together, proclaiming
they don't need to associate with hypocrites. In a country where Bibles in many
different versions abound, why are we not as hungry to hear what God has written
to us?
Once a visitor from India attended a church in the United States. He was
delighted to see the church so full, and the powerful choir touched his heart.
When the pastor announced a prayer meeting at seven that upcoming Wednesday, he
anticipated attending it with great pleasure. He knew that in India the prayer
meetings were even better attended than the church services, because many who
were not Christians came to these to receive miracles. If the church service on
Sunday had been such a blessing, how much more, then, the prayer meeting? How
would they even be able to accommodate the crowds?
His watch indicated that it was six-thirty when he arrived that Wednesday
evening, but no one was there. In fact, the doors were still locked! He was
confused. Had he misheard the pastor? He didn't think so, so he decided to wait.
It was ten minutes past seven before someone finally showed up and opened the
doors. Half an hour later, the prayer service finally started, but there were
only ten people attending, and the pastor was nowhere to be seen! The gentleman
from India couldn't believe his eyes. Where was everybody? Wasn't anyone hungry
to experience God in their live? He was even more disappointed when the service
only lasted half an hour.
Is it possible that many of us worship God for His blessings rather than for the
experience of getting to know Him? Is it possible that many fall away in North
America because they perceive God as a Santa Clause, and when they do not obtain
what they want, they simply move on to greener pastures, which in reality are
nowhere to be found? Is it possible that God is knocking on the doors of our
heart, but we are too busy to realize how near He really is to us?
Only God can make a difference in our life. He loves us and desires to have a
personal relationship with each one of us. Will we let Him? Let us pray that we
as His people realize that with Him we are everything, but without Him we are
nothing. Let us pray that we start to realize how spiritually starved we are.
Let's pray that He will become OUR reality.
Attending church in Haiti was quite a revelation. Is going to church important
to you?
Rob Chaffart
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