Another Sunday has passed and Debbie and I visited a new church today. It was a Baptist church downtown that she had dropped in on before and wanted to check it out again. I’m always game for new adventures, so we jumped in a taxi and the driver whisked us off. The congregation meets in a school building that the taxi driver was unfamiliar with and we didn’t have the exact address, so we were dropped off in the right vicinity and wandered the streets a little until Debbie recognized the place. It was a lovely morning and the walk was nice.
After a little bit of meandering we found the school where church was held each week. We were greeted at the door, shown to some open seats and then we waited for the service to start. Within 10 minutes the pastor walked on stage. He explained that there had been a tragedy this week and today’s service was to cry out to our God on behalf of a 21 year old girl name Daniela.
During the service the story was pieced together: Monday, September 3, at 7:00 PM Daniela left work and got in a taxi. She was headed to meet a friend in another city but never got there. From the moment she got in the taxi there has been no communication with her. No one knows if she’s been kidnapped or killed. She has disappeared.
Throughout the service the entire congregation was called to pray; called to cry out to God; called to praise. Yes – you read that correctly: called to praise. What kind of pastor would ask his congregation to praise a God who permitted such an atrocity? What kind of people would praise a God who allowed a beautiful young lady to be abducted? What kind of people would praise a God as a family grieves a missing child? Let me tell you: the kind of people know their God is in control despite the pain in this life. The kind of people that understand His plan is not dependant on our joy or grief but something greater. The kind of people that understand that our God sacrificed His son for us and therefore His grace is sufficient.
I was brought to tears as I joined in the singing of praise, the laying on of hands and the crying out for Daniela. It felt surreal to be a part of something that “happens on the news”. It hits much closer to the heart when you can watch the mom kneel before God and beg for protection and deliverance of her child.
The focus verse for the entire service was the verse above: Jeremiah 1:8…how do we even comprehend this when hope seems so far away. The pastor said we must look towards the light as we walk through this darkness. Weeping may remain for the night or while we are here, but we have an assurance that one day we will meet with Daniela in paradise.
And so passed a somber Sunday…with a sober reminder to me of the dangers in the world.
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