In the body of Kenya

     Today we are going to look at Kenya, Africa. One of the blessings of Brittne being a missionary is that she knows other missionaries all over the world. Jeff is a journeyman who works in Kenya like Brittne does in Peru. He works with the college, street kids, and volunteers in many other places. He is the kind of person who helps where he sees he need. This is what he told me about Christians in Kenya:

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"The sincere believers in Kenya take Easter to be a wonderful time. The celebrations start on Palm Sunday when all over you will see people carrying palms as they walk to church. Palm trees grow all over Kenya so people just cut a branch and carry it to church. On Easter Sunday, many churches have sunrise services and then a long service (about three hours) with a lot of worship through music. Kenyans really know how to sing! There is a long message and some churches have a big dinner for the entire congregation.

I will be attending Ruaraka Baptist Church, the church right down the street from my house and will be worshiping in Swahili and then joining some great friends for an Easter lunch.
     God has been teaching me to evaluate my heart and focus. Easter is a wonderful time to take advantage of sharing the Gospel with Muslims, Hindus, and the many other lost people around me whom I encounter every day."

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     The difference I immediately saw between the Kenyan Christians and the American Christians is the difference in willingness to plan their Easter Day around the church and not plan the church around their Easter! I know I cannot speak for all Christians but in general, going to church on Easter Sunday is just part of the day, like hunting Easter Eggs. Even those that do not go to church any other time during the year will go to church on Easter Sunday. However, at noon, the wrists start coming up and the eyes start watching the clock. Can you imagine what would happen if your pastor decided to have a 3 hour service on Sunday? How many people would get up and leave? How many people would go to a sunrise service and then go to church for three hours and then eat together? I remember when we had sunrise services in Montana, the people who came to the sunrise service usually would not go to the church service! What has always been interesting to me is how we think we cannot go past an hour, or maybe an hour and a half; but we can sit through a 2 hour movie without thinking twice! We can attend a sporting event for hours and have a great time. But church? That is a different story!
     Sunday, as you go to church, go with a flexible schedule. Don't put dinner in the oven to come out exactly at the time you have estimated your arrival home; as long as your pastor isn't long winded of course! If the Holy Spirit moved upon a congregation 20 minutes pass the 'scheduled' time of ending during the closing prayer, I wonder how many would still be in their seats to reap the amazement? How many would have slipped out during the closing prayer to get home or to the restaurant on time? Change your perspective this Easter and plan Easter around God and church first! Then fill in the rest of your day with family and fun. Live out the day with no schedule of activities. Stay focused on Jesus. Let God move in you and enjoy the day of celebrating that Jesus is alive! Alive in this world! Alive in our church! Alive in our hearts!

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said, "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen!
Mark 16:5