Though I delivered many babies in my training in Family Medicine, it's been a long time since I've delivered one. I've sometimes wondered what would happen if I was called upon for an emergency delivery while on a mission trip. Well on my recent mission trip to Nigeria, I didn't deliver any babies, but we did witness a new birth. During our last Sunday there, we were present for the birth of a new church. We had been working the previous three days in the village providing medical care while pastors and evangelists shared God's word with people. We worked with a team of Nigerian doctors, nurses, pastors and evangelists. This was the second village our team worked in during our trip. Our partner ministry had identified this particular village as one in which they were working to implement the Community Health Evangelism training we helped them with on a visit earlier this year. Now we were back to help with the medical outreach, including primary medical care, surgeries and eye care. During our time in the community many came to Christ and were invited to church.
That Sunday we gathered in a small dirt-floor school that had been rented as the initial gathering place. Worship was incredible with just a capella singing with rhythmic clapping in the African style. It was so much simpler than we are used to, yet so free and worshipful. We had a time of prayer and commissioning for the new pastor, Daniel. Our team pastor, Jeff Burnett, shared an inspiring message about laying the foundation of a new church on solid ground, which is church members who put Christ first in their lives, above the idol of self. Sixteen people committed to Christ that day. The new believers were provided Bibles as well. It was an awesome way to end our time in Nigeria and the highlight of our trip.
That Sunday we gathered in a small dirt-floor school that had been rented as the initial gathering place. Worship was incredible with just a capella singing with rhythmic clapping in the African style. It was so much simpler than we are used to, yet so free and worshipful. We had a time of prayer and commissioning for the new pastor, Daniel. Our team pastor, Jeff Burnett, shared an inspiring message about laying the foundation of a new church on solid ground, which is church members who put Christ first in their lives, above the idol of self. Sixteen people committed to Christ that day. The new believers were provided Bibles as well. It was an awesome way to end our time in Nigeria and the highlight of our trip.
