Church Meetings in Africa

My church family in the States has small groups, which provide a more intimate setting for Bible study and prayer. However, since the church I attend here is already small, Bible study and prayer are done corporately on two separate weeknights.

We begin our Bible Study evening by reading a chapter aloud, and then the leader (we take turns) asks a series of questions to help us think about what we’ve read and understand it better. The discussion always keeps me on my mental toes, as I never know what people will bring to the table! The “health, wealth, and prosperity” gospel is more widespread in Africa than in America – ironic, because there’s less of all three in the former than in the latter – and people’s interpretations and expectations of what we’ve read amazes me at times. Additionally, because Africans are so in tune with spiritual forces, they are intrigued with miracles, tongues, and other supernatural manifestations. Sometimes it’s hard to encourage people to contribute to the discussion, but at other times it’s hard to keep up with all that is being said. =D

The prayer meeting also has a rotating leader, who comes prepared with a list of various praises and requests. A praise or request will be mentioned, and then everyone in the room will start to softly pray aloud, so that the room is full of the murmur of prayer. As the murmur subsides, another praise or request is mentioned. After three or four items have been prayed over, the leader will call on one person to pray aloud and summarize all the requests that have just been shared. Every ten to fifteen minutes, someone breaks out in song, and we all sing together worshipfully. Approximately ten minutes before the session ends, the leader invites others to contribute requests that are on their hearts, and we corporately lift these requests up to God.

I think I’m looking forward to returning to Bible Studies in the States…but I’ll miss African prayer meetings. We have a lot we could learn from them!