GlocalNet

I felt as though I was worshipping in heaven last night - literally.  I was with people of every race and a few dozen nations that work and live in this country and gather as Jesus followers.  It was 3 hours, but powerful the whole time.  There was another preacher from the Phillipines that did incredible.  There was an African choir - and dancing group that made me dance with them - I wasn’t any good!  There was a Filipino band.  Tons of others.  I was blown away by the play they did of Jesus -  I think I tweeted a picture of a Filipino Jesus!  I also loved the tech guy - he was a radical worshipper - I was wondering if he’d hit the right keys - better not Heath & Chris!!!!  Being in a room with hundreds of leaders of “house” churches who gather in mass was just awesome. 

I wanted to transport everyone I know to be a part of the worship.  I wanted my daughter Jill to be there.  I wanted our worship team to see.  I wanted pastors to see and hear - it’s so different from what you see back home.  Daniel & Josh - the Hmong and the Iranian I wanted them to see.  I wanted Phuc Dang to sing Vietnamese for them!  Nikki would have loved the dancers in robes.  Mark Kimmel would have - - - watched!  Omar would have been at home.  Matt - would have had a break from Building Community!  What did I see?

Abandonment in worship.  Not goofiness or stupidness - but abandonment.  People smiling, laughing, singing with all their might - doing their best.  Everyone was into it. 

Commissioning of a church starter.  This church starter was a lady who is from another neighboring country.  She has a high position in her job - met Jesus - came to this place - and is now on a very dangerous border serving people, seeing them come to faith in Christ and seeing a church emerge.  This lady is middle aged, classy, educated, sharp, and courageous. 

I saw cabbies, doctors, educators, food service workers, household servants, public works servants, diplomats, even an army chaplain - all worshipping together.  They don’t “do” domains - they live them.  Many came here not just to make money but to make Jesus famous. 

I heard God.  The place we met was butted up next to a mosque.  I could hear the Imam giving the call to prayer.  I told the people I was talking to, “Listen, people are calling out to God and God is hearing them - do we hear them - do we love them - are we ready to serve them with the love of Jesus.”  It was one of the most powerful moments in my life and in that sermon. 

I saw high sacrifice - to follow Jesus here is legal - that’s great.  Not easy.  And, even though legal - that doesn’t mean safe.  I’m convinced that without sacrifice we can’t experience him in depth.  It makes me sad the primary thing when people sacrifice in the west is money - there is so much more than that to sacrifice.  Yes, money matters and you should give sacrificially - but money can’t take the place of our presence and action. 

I saw people hungry to connect with the church globally - and to connect with the church in the West that respects them.  I began to tell them what I’ve learned and am learning from the global church and how it’s impacting us, and the response was overwhelming.  They want partnership - not a colonial relationship that is one way and self-serving. 

I heard lots of them talk about the global events - they definitely don’t have a western perspective on those - Christian or not.  I wonder how much our positions would change if we could see the world not through individual nationalistic eyes - but through the eyes of the body of Christ in the world.  If we did - I promise you it would change our politics and policies in countless ways. 

So today NorthWood - as you are working - hundreds of you - serving the city - know that you belong to a body of Christ where people have allowed themselves to be “indentured” servants all over the world to see God’s glory manifest and lived out in global cities - serve with joy, love, and passion.