Nigerian Worship Services
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Nigerian Worship Services
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“Sunday found us going to the 8 a.m. English service in Zing town. Services here are very interesting. No matter what church you go to, the music is very lively. Oftentimes they compose their own words and music. They are very creative people. The format for worship is very traditional UM, just as you would find in the U.S. Here they do all 3 scripture readings ever week (also Psalms). I really enjoy that. However, when the doxology is sung, the tune is very traditional too - and very somber. It is almost like being at a funeral. Very interesting -a real contrast. “
Sometimes instead of going to No. 1 church in Zing town, we go practically next door to a place called "Zandigida." I don't know what it means, but gida means house. It is only a block or two from us. This congregation has a small building that it worships in. They have a larger one but it has no roof. They announced they will have a feast to raise money for the roof. All kinds of people come for a feast and then they come prepared to help with the money. A little different than we do it at home, but a fundraiser none the less.
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Greeting the people on the first Sunday in Zing. |
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Church at Moki. Notice Church Bell is a wheel rim. |
In Gembu, Chuck and Pearl were guests of a Baptist Missionary, Jim Black. They attended two of his services.
“Pastor Jim was to have the infant dedication of another pastor's baby daughter. When we got to the church they showed us the original church building. The people made it round because they believed that evil spirits could hide in comers. Today they use that building for Sunday School and worship in a much larger building with comers.
Jim gave the sermon. He spoke English. I did not get at all sleepy because he adds acting to his preaching. His main scripture reference was Genesis 22 where Abraham is told to sacrifice Isaac. He explained that just as when we go to school and the teacher tests us to see what we know, God also tests us to check the level of our faith.
He talked also about financial giving. Here individuals or groups will have special singing. People come up and put 5 or 10 naira notes on the forehead of the leader. They have a special step and movement that they use when coming up. He imitated that and brought the house down. His point, though, was that people change their larger notes into smaller notes. It appears that they are giving more then they really are. They are not giving in the way they should-definitely not like Abraham was called to do. I guess people are the same the world over. One hundred naira is approximately one US dollar. That means a five or ten naira note is like a nickel or a dime, but in paper form. He said the shops here in Gembu prepare with 5 & 10 naira notes so that when the people come in on their way to church, they can give the correct change. Of course, the shopkeeper wants a sale too.
Jim was preaching at a different Baptist church here in Gembu. We went to hear him preach. In this church the deacons sat on stuffed living room chairs. They had some extra chairs. Lisa, his wife, and their 14 yr. old daughter, Megan, Chuck and I were sitting on the back seat. After we were introduced, they invited us up front and asked us to sit on those soft chairs. That is not a good thing to do to me. Make me comfortable and I go to sleep. I had a hard time staying awake. Per normal 2/3 of the congregation were women. The men sat in one section and the women in the rest. Children old enough to be away from Mom were made to sit in the children's section and the ushers maintained the discipline. I don't remember seeing this particular set up before. Jim spoke about Caleb. Though his name means dog, he was a lion. He had a great deal of courage and faith.”