A Discovery In Africa

By Reverend Michael Farias

We left the safety of the compound at 6:00 on Sunday morning and headed to church.

It was my first time in Angola, Africa, and I found it peculiar that we were on our way to church so early in the day, but I was a guest, so I didn’t question our plans. I simply did what was asked of me.

The church building wasn’t very far away, but we arrived late due to the terrible road conditions and traffic. A parking spot was reserved for our team and we were quickly ushered to the platform area as guests of honor.  I was with a missionary team and I am from America, so our attendance was highly anticipated.

I wasn’t prepared for the experience that worship in Angola provided, even though I expected to see a church that was demonstrative in their expression of, and reaction to, the Word.  I wasn’t disappointed in that regard, but I was absolutely overwhelmed by the genuine hunger and thirst for the things of God.

What a contrast to my observations and experiences of church in America.  I wondered about the vast difference.  Why is it that in America the church seems to be rather subdued?  Why is it that in Africa people will dress up, walk in dirt from their shanties or shacks, pack 500 people into a non-air conditioned structure that was designed to hold 300 at most, and will do so at 6:30 in the morning?  What was astonishing is that this service lasted three hours and was only the first of three services that day.  When we were ushered out at the conclusion of the first service, I saw hundreds of people waiting in line to fill the building for service number two.  Talk about standing room only!  There were chairs on the sidewalk, and people standing and looking in through the openings where it appeared windows should have been, but there were no window panes, just rough-cut holes.

With conditions that would be considered vastly sub-par by Western standards, the church was full, alive, and vibrant. I believe the excitement was due to the great discovery they have made.  They have discovered something greater than gold, something that will transform their lives, something that will give hope to the hopeless and joy to the sorrowful.  They have discovered Jesus and a new life in Him, and they just can’t seem to get enough.  There is a multiplication effect taking place not only in Angola, but throughout the continent of Africa.  This isn’t just happening in Africa, but in many places throughout Asia and Central and South America as well.

With great awakening comes great need.  The immediate need is training, education and discipleship.  At Greater Than Gold, we are excited to partner with Africa’s Hope by offering our bible study curriculum for translation and distribution to help meet this great need and fuel this impressive momentum. You, too, can partner with Greater Than Gold, through direct contributions at https://gtg.secure2.agroup.com/ways-to-give or by purchasing a Greater Than Gold study at http://www.greaterthangoldstudy.com/bible-study-guides. The profit from each study sold goes directly to produce more curriculum for use in third world countries and prison ministries.

Acts 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem…….