Today Walter and I drove out to Jacob Bear Church, a little gathering of believers from the First Nations communities in the Qu'Appelle Valley east of Regina. The sky was gray. The drive took longer than we thought. I could feel some tension as we realized we would be a bit late and didn't want to be disrespectful to the folks there. As we turned off the Trans-Canada, we knew we wouldn't make up time on the narrow secondary road. A half-ton pulled out in front of us and kept a very moderate pace ahead of us, dodging potholes and puddles.
We then turned onto the grid road leading to the Jacob Bear church and slowed down even more as it became slick with the morning's rain. Then we turned carefully into the parking lot, all mud and a slight smattering of gravel. Several muddy vehicles lined up next to the little country church and we made our way into the building.
A steady guitar strum greeted us as we slid quietly into a wooden pew in the brightly lit sanctuary. About a dozen worshipers sat scattered in the rows, singing quietly to the old gospel chorus. A few nodded and smiled at us as we made our entrance.
The worship service was simple. With the regular pastor and his wife away to visit family and friends in the United States, various members of the small congregation took turns leading the music, making announcements and sharing a message. To many church-goers, the lack of formality would have been a distraction and a cause for criticism. Was this really "church"?
But to Walter and myself, after spending 26+ years in First Nations church-planting ministry, this was the most genuine and heartfelt worship service we could experience!
On this Lord's day, I am thankful for God's faithful followers continuing to meet in spite of rain, mud and no pastor.
I am thankful for the simplicity of praise, prayer, the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus working in lives.
I am thankful for God stirring in a tiny body of believers, who long for their family and others to know the peace and joy they know in Christ.
I am thankful for the warm fellowship we were shown and the prayers offered when I shared a prayer request.
"Give thanks in all circumstances..." I Thessalonians 5:18
What could have been a dreary day with pressure to be perfect and perform as the "missionaries", turned out to be a day full of joy and many reasons to be thankful!
Day 2~ What can you give thanks for in your circumstances today?
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