God doesn't care how elaborate your church is
Spiritual Reflections
Pat Ozment Jr. IMB Missionary to Ghana
Almost every Sunday we worship at a different church. Often where we worship is determined by my invitation to preach, but this morning I was not scheduled to preach, so we decided to attend church with Mr. Lancer at Second Baptist.

Most Americans would benefit from the experience. The church is located at the end of a muddy street in an area that would make the "ghetto" in the U.S. look "up town." The building needs major renovation, but then those around it look like they should be torn down. It is constructed of cement blocks plastered over and then painted. The paint is largely gone and so is much of the plaster. The glassless windows have wooden shutters, and the tin roof leaks badly.

Inside the walls have forgotten what color they were. Sections of the ceiling are missing, and what remains is marked with water stains. On the wall above the stage, under a picture of Jesus, there is the faint message "Merry Christ - mas and a Happy New Year."

We sat in white plastic chairs on a concrete floor. Most of the light is provided by the open shutters, but even without light, I was conscious of the dirt.

What would your reaction be, should you suddenly find your church replaced with this one?

The singing was accompanied by drums, a tambourine and the rhythmic clapping of the peoples' hands. The song was in Dagbanli so I understood little of it.

The message was from Proverbs 6:16-19, and Timothy, Mr. Lancer's oldest son, interpreted. Outside, men were working to build a public latrine, and a diesel-powered compressor shattered the quiet every three minutes as it maintained air pressure to the block-making machine.

God was there. The same God who was in your air conditioned, dry, clean and attractive sanctuary, with its inspirational music, was there with us, in the dingy, dark, damp and deafening surroundings.

Matthew 18:20 says, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them."

Find a place that He is "in the midst of," and I'll see you in church.

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