A Joyful Noise

The missionaries working at CMS all attend Salvation Lutheran Church. The church has about 15-20 members and no pastor (although we recently called a man who has agreed to come in April). We are small and we struggle. On an average Sunday, the missionaries outnumber the nationals. The service in conducted in Chinese, as is the sermon, and we listen to a translation using a headset. Julia, our translator, only translates the sermon so we rarely know what is going on the rest of the time but we manage well enough once we memorize the service order. We follow along in a whispered English during the litergy and songs.

This week, for the first time, the service was conducted completely in English. One of my fellow missionaries dad's was visiting and gave the sermon while our bossman led the service. The national members listened on headsets, getting a glimpse of our worship experience.

Because the service was in English, we were much bolder when it was our turn to talk or sing and the nationals were just as loud in Chinese. When we sang, prayed, and recited the Scripture, it was loud and in two languages.

At first, it was hard to focus but after the first song, the noise of our bilingual worship was beautiful. The Bible tells us that when Christ comes back "every tribe, tongue, and nation" will bow down to Him. Heaven, I hope, will sound like church. Every voice, language, and people singing bold praises to God, thanking Him for the gifts He gives us.