Testimonies and Spirit-filled Music!

Sun., Feb. 23, 2014

Soon after I returned to AU in Jan. I was aware that some of the students who work with the Chaplain on a variety of activities went on a retreat off campus.  There has been a growing concern that fewer and fewer students attend the Wed. morning and Sun. morning chapel services, and much conversation has taken place around this issue.  (Those of you in the local church, does this sound familiar??!)

Some excellent ideas were shared and discussed at the retreat, and gradually some of them are being implemented!  And so, on this particular Sunday, the message was given by numerous individuals excited and willing to share their testimonies of how God has been at work in their lives!!  One of the staff members shared that years ago she suffered from two miscarriages, but then was very blessed to have two girls and two boys, all of whom now have their professional degrees and are working productively in their various fields!  She concluded her remarks by inviting all of us to stand and sing with her "How Great Thou Art!"

A young student from Liberia testified to God's loving care and protection of him, having been raised by his grandmother when both of his parents were killed during the war there.  He said that he had known nothing but war from the time he was six until about 16.  Several times he escaped from becoming a child soldier.  Many times he had to run for his life, and most times he didn't really know where he was running to.  On several different occasions he ended up in a refugee camp in Ivory Coast ~~ where Operation Classroom (Indiana Annual Conference) had established a school for the Liberian students until it was safe for them to return to their country.  He continually said, "And by the Grace of God I . . . . ."  And so it is indeed "by the Grace of God" that he is studying here at Africa University!  We trust that God will lead him back to Liberia to provide some much needed leadership in that now peaceful nation.

A number of other students shared that while growing up they were afflicted with various diseases or ailments.  The doctors had difficulty diagnosing some of them, and once again, it is "by the Grace of God" that they are now healthy and happy to be studying at AU!!

Several students took the microphone and sang solos, praising God for God's wonderful goodness toward them.  The service lasted about an hour and a half, but no one was looking at their watch or indicating that they were eager to leave!!  Wonderful participation from everyone in the congregation, as we were invited to stand and sing and sway to the music!!


Sun., March 2, 2014   Spirit-filled Music!!

Students have been asking for a more lively worship service ~~ one that is more like an "African" worship service!!!

And so, last Sunday about 6-7 individuals were invited forward to sing the verses of "Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior" in their mother language while we all joined in on the chorus in English!!  As we continued to sing and sway others from the congregation came to sing a verse in their own language!!  I hope you have had an opportunity to participate in worship where praises and hallelujahs were being lifted to God in different languages!!!  These experiences have really broadened my world view, and I've been so blessed to feel the Spirit moving in our midst!  What a rich and inspiring worship we had as other groups of singers came forward and either sang or led us in singing!!  Truly an "African worship service!"

The Africa University Choir, which will be coming to the U.S. this coming June to participate in Annual Conferences in Baltimore-Washington and Florida, sings in more than 20 languages ~~ English, French, Portuguese and Shona, plus so many dialects and tribal or regional languages ~~ that it boggles the mind!!

Upon his retirement from AU, Professor Patrick M., the first director of the AU Choir, was charged with writing down and setting to music many of the hymns and choruses from these various dialects and countries!!  Most of these had to be recorded, and then he would write the music and the words, since they were part of the oral history and music of a particular area but had never been put on paper!!  Some of these will likely be included in the next "Global Praise" songbook!!!

Be blessed by all the music around you, and seek to share it with others,
Mary Beth