powerful mother's day message

This morning was a great time of worship.

While Sharon Mishler was here, she took Ryan and I out to eat with Prudence and Proddell – two people whom many of you may know! (They have been to NorthRidge on several occasions along with their daughter, Esther. Prudence even spoke during one service.) We have heard a lot about these two wonderful people, but Friday was the first time we got the chance to get to know them a little better and hear about their ministry here in Haiti.

This morning was our first time going to their church, and it was such a blessing to be there! It’s an early service – from 7:30-9:30 – so we (and the Heckman family next door) all got up early and left to worship the Lord at Eglise Evangelique d’Haiti.

From the time we got there and started singing, I could sense that this church is a church that is on fire for God! In my personal experience throughout the past couple of years, I’ve found no place quite like Haiti in which I can so strongly feel the presence of the Holy Spirit at every church service. Every single person standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a packed out, hot and sweaty, one-room building is singing his or her hearts out to God. Oh, it is refreshing and revitalizing to be in the midst of that kind of intense worship every Sunday!

There was a special service this morning to honor Mother’s Day, which is today in Haiti (May 25^th). After all of the singing, Prudence came to the front of the church and before she gave the message, she asked all of the children to stand and thank their mothers for all that they do.

Next, even better yet, she asked all of the husbands to get up and move so that they would be sitting next to their wives during the service. It was so funny because initially there were quite a few who got up right away, but then there were members of the church who were calling out certain men and making sure that they, too, got up to sit by their wives. I don’t think any spouse was left sitting alone!

But Prudence didn’t stop there – she even asked all of the husbands to give their wives a kiss to show how much they love and appreciate them. After a little bit of affection between all of the couples (which I hardly see at all in this culture), the whole church erupted with applause and giggles and happiness. I couldn’t help but notice that many of the married couples sat holding hands for the remainder of the service. It was all SO sweet!  :)

The message Prudence gave was out of Ephesians, chapters 5 and 6, and Titus. She spoke clearly about the biblical roles of husbands versus wives in a relationship, as well as the respect that needs to come from children. She spoke about the utter importance of teaching sound doctrine to our children, and noted that a family’s first mission field is raising their children to become strong men and women in Christ.  Can you feel the power of that statement? Our families are our first mission field. 

Wives hold onto your husbands, husbands hold onto the Bible, and be sure that your family is standing firm inside of the Word of God.

Prudence also spoke about the importance of realizing what the key influences in your children’s’ lives are, and how to utilize those influences positively. A child’s influence (religious or otherwise) is going to come from 1) family life, 2) church and 3) school --- so choose wisely!

Husbands and wives, fathers and mothers – your children will follow your lead, so make yourselves great examples of Christ followers.

Ephesians 5:1-2
            Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

We are to be imitators of God, walking in love at all times.

God’s word is so powerful!

I am so thankful that we had the opportunity to visit this cherished church body. I cannot wait to go back next month to worship among those believers of Christ and soak in the Word of God.