Authentic Moments
Sunday, October 12, 2025
My thought throughout my day has been - I want more folks from Vestavia Hills Baptist Church to experience what I experienced today.
Authentic moments when the Spirit of God connects us with the broad, beautiful and expansive world change us. Let me describe.
When our teams visit the Atulelo community, we stay in a lodge inside the Shaba National Reverse. The Shaba is one of three reserves surrounding the Ewaso Ngiro River in this area. These reserves protect the animals of Africa drawing visitors from around the world to go on Safari.
We left for church early this morning to drive through the Buffalo Springs Reserve. We spent the morning relaxing with a herd of giraffes, a large bachelor elephant, and gazelles. It was magical.
Yet, the fullness of the day was not the animals. We drove to the village of Dabaa for worship. Dabaa is the largest village close to the community of Atulelo. The primary school our ICDC feeds into is in Dabaa. The Anglican church sponsoring the mission in Atulelo is in Dabaa. We worshipped in this church to be with the families who are supporting the Africa Exchanges work.
As one of the ministers on the trip, I had the opportunity to participate in worship. We joined the local priest in the parish (including Atulelo), and several visiting senior representatives from the Diocese in the room behind the church as they robed up. Then, we processed with them down the small aisle to sit at the altar. This seat gave me the vantage point of watching the church worship and participating in worship.
The worship service began with a time of singing and dancing. The priest told me no one feels like they have worshipped if they don’t have this time. Like yesterday, I thought I would be watching others. Nope! It too was participatory. As people came to the front, Rev. James next to me said, “Let’s go.” Before I realized it, I was in a line of people singing and dancing around the room. It gave permission for the rest of our group to join in. Soon, I was following worshippers out the back door, around the small building, and back in the side door.
The church graciously invited and welcomed us into their worship. It was amazing.
Betsy, Sharon and I joked later about introducing the dance as a new element in our worship service at VHBC. The image made us all laugh. It would be inauthentic to us, though. In this place, with these new friends, it felt right and we were honored to join in.
The priests asked our three reverends to preach. Courtney began by preaching from 2 Corinthians inviting the congregation to consider cheerfully giving their lives to God. Sam and I spoke from the John version of the feeding of the 5,000. I highlighted how the disciples never thought they had enough food every time they came to another group of people – and yet, every time they had just enough. Sam spoke of how story invites us to consider what we have to share when making space for God to work (At least this is what I think he said, he spoke in Swahilli!).
After worship, our team stood outside the church with the priests. Every worshipper – child, teen, woman and man – came by to shake our hands and look us in the eyes. It was an even more magical moment than seeing the animals that morning. Each person touched me with their presence, grace, and joy. Then, we enjoyed a fellowship meal under the tree behind the church with the visiting ministers and their families.
These moments were special for everyone involved. It is highly unusual for visitors, especially visitors from America, to join this congregation in worship. And it was just as highly unusual for us to be there. No one took this for granted. We received the gift of being in each other’s presence and worshipping together as a sign of God’s presence.
The world grew smaller for all as we worshipped together. God’s Kingdom grew even broader and more beautiful. The power of worship to cross so many divisions left me speechless.
So, yes, I want more of my friends at VHBC to experience this moment too. I want us to see the width, breadth, and depth of God’s love and Kingdom. I hope you will consider coming in early May next year. We have room for 16 people.
Until tomorrow,
Eric