In Tete, Mozambique I finally got to go to the Lutheran Church. It was tiny- a small room that could fit about 12 people if they squeezed in. There was a table in the front serving as an altar, which was big enough for a candle and a flower, and communion was a real challenge! But the group was very lively! It was pouring rain afterwards, and no one had a car. One guy with a bike took me home, saving me a drenching 40-minute walk!
In Tanzania I accidentally found a Lutheran church close to the Shalom center, where I was living and volunteering. I couldn’t read the Swahili on the outside, but a painting of Luther’s rose gave it away. I went in to introduce myself, and they were very happy to have me. It was holy week, and, after asking me to have lunch with the assistant to the bishop who was there, they insisted on having me process in with them and sit up front. I tried to refuse- mainly because I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and was pretty sweaty because I had just come from playing with the kids, but they wouldn’t take no for an answer!
I also went to this church for Easter Sunday. I never understood more than a few words, but the people were friendly and I loved the music. One girl even gave me a coin to put in the offering, because instead of passing a plate, everyone goes up to the front and drops something in the basket. Because I was with the kids earlier, I didn’t have any money, and she saved me the embarrassment of being the only one who didn’t go up!
Afterwards I had a long chat with the evangelist of the congregation. In the Arusha Lutheran diocese, there are over 900 worshipping congregations, but only 56 pastors! Evangelists, who usually have about a year or two of theological training and cannot give communion, help run the churches that don’t have pastors. There are plenty of congregations who don’t even have an evangelist, and the pastors rotate between these congregations while lay leaders take charge on a daily basis. This is very common for the churches in Africa!
On Good Friday, I went into the Arusha city center and joined in the annual procession from the churches to the stadium. In the stadium, they celebrate with an ecumenical worship service, with all Christian denominations represented. It was really neat to walk through the streets, singing and dancing!
Across the border in Kampala, Uganda, they have a huge Christian gathering at the university every Saturday night. There were probably 1,000 students crammed into the swimming pool area, all listening to skits, songs, and sermons. It was incredible that so many people would dedicate their Saturday night to this. The man giving his testimony that night had had AIDS, but was miraculously healed. Now, he is a pastor who shares the gospel and his amazing story in all of East Africa.
The next day, I was planning on going to the Orthodox service with my friend Enoch, but he had a test that Sunday morning. So, I went with his roommate to his church- a Pentecostal church. I really liked the music, but the 45-minute sermon didn’t really seem to have any point. At least I understood it, though.
I was lucky to have the experience of worshipping in so many different communities. It taught me about other denominations and how they worship. But in general, the music in Africa seems so much more fun and alive! It was a great experience singing and dancing in church! We could learn a lot from the African way of worship.
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