Always Ready

I can't believe I haven't blogged yet about my first Nigerian church experience. The first Sunday I was here I visited a church with a friend that lives in my compound. Like many things here in Africa, it was quite different than what I was used to, let me explain... 

Attempting to fit into the culture as good as possible, I put on my best (only) Sunday kaftan. We attended a church that was held in an abandoned building on the edge of town. They were forced to move there because their original building was burned down in the November crisis. ( http://allafrica.com/stories/200811300001.html ) 

 

As service began, I,the newcomer, was asked to standup and introduce myself...not that unusual. So I stood up, and in my best Nigerian English simply said my name, where I was from, and what I was doing here. Thinking that was more than enough for an introduction, I took a seat only to have the pastor ask me to come up onstage and give the morning greeting. Come up on stage?...give a greeting? You can image the shock and confusion on my face. Let me remind you that this was my first week here. So, not wanting to offend anyone by refusing, I proceeded to the podium to "greet" the congregation. After basically repeating what I had just said, I handed the microphone back to the pastor. Thinking I was in the clear of the unwanted spotlight, I started to head back to my seat only to have the pastor this time insist that I stay and sit on stage with him for the duration of the service. So, without an appropriate “escape route” out of this situation, I spend the rest of the service facing the congregation with a point-blank view of the pastor’s backside. Needless to say, I didn't comprehend much that was preached that Sunday as most of my thought and energy was focused on not 'looking' distracted or scratching at my kaftan in a way that was inappropriate for someone in front of an audience of 60.

While I am appreciative of the honor I was being shown, it was just quite different than the standard welcoming of first time visitors I've become so accustom to back in the states. Since then I have visited another church in which I was asked to stand, give my name and state where I was from, but was not invited on stage...and, I didn't feel nearly as welcomed! 

Since this quick indoctrination into my new surroundings, I have since been reminded of scripture from the Apostle Peter that speaks to situations like the one I found myself in where he simply states: …always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within you… (1 Peter 3:15).