Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Hope of Glory Church, Ndola, Zambia

Church services routinely last 3 or 4 hours. We have never been in a church that was not completely full. The people sit shoulder to shoulder on hard wooden benches. The conditions would test the faith of an American in 30 minutes or less. The churches are full but the parking lot is empty. Everyone walks or takes public transportation to church.

The people are very attentive as Ed teaches, even though the process is slowed by the necessity of a translator. (1) Shows the young people of the praise team reading their Bible and taking notes as Ed preaches. (2) Shows the women's ministry team studying their Bible during the sermon. These women all wore a uniform and sat together.














The African churches has a lot of emphasis on honoring different groups of people and visitors. We were given chairs on the stage, facing the congregation, alongside the pastor and our hostess, Beatrice Simbaya.