Three Gatherings

Colinga Baptist Church

Established in 1821, Colinga Baptist Church, is the oldest Baptist Bengali church in Kolkata. At this first service of the day, it was good to fellowship with brothers and sisters in India. We were received with a warm reception to an involved service, where Psalm 27 was read by everyone at the same time, in their own language. Thoughts were then shared and commented on by Pastor Asis. We were humbled and touch by their efforts in English not only translation but also songs learnt in English, sung with such passion for Jesus.

 
Celebration service at BMS guesthouse

We spent an extended time of sung worship in both English and Bengali. A reminder again that we are a global church a world-wide family and God transcends language. This was our first experience of seeing the Big Life Sunday celebration. This isn’t the same as the services we are familiar with. Their emphasis on spiritual nourishment comes from looking back, looking up and looking forward in Big Life groups in the week and acting on their faith. The Sunday is then a celebration of how God has met them in the week and an opportunity to share life with other fellowship groups and to pray more widely.

 

Celebration service at YMCA

Zoey and Tracy attended a Hindi speaking service. As we arrived sung praise was in full swing with an Indian style drum beat. We did not understand any words being sung but the passion and spirit of the singing was evident. Prayers continued in the same fervour. And again, effort had been made by a young boy to sing a song in English. Testimony was translated by our guide where we were told by one woman of her neighbour coming to faith after being healed through prayer, one woman thanking Jesus for healing of liver disease which had sent her into hospital with bleeding. Another testimony was one of pain as a woman spoke of being the only Christian in her family experiencing persecution from the rest of her family for her faith. We were honoured to pray for her for protection, for her to know Jesus’ power and comfort; and for the hearts of her family to soften. We are again humbled by so obvious witness of courageous faith. Preaching with a translator (Pastor Vikash’s daughter Sneah) was a new experience. The enthusiasm for hearing the word opened remains even with Big Life groups in the week. The attendees then gather in groups for the Looking up questions on the passage. What did they like? What was the challenge? What did it say about God? What did it say about People? Even more meaning was gathered through this. Before we left, most of the women gathered round us for prayer. So many hands of our sisters in Christ were placed, with love, on us as they lifted their voices in what seemed like thankful praise to God and petitions on our behalf. We look forward to meeting one of the Big Life groups on Tuesday where we will be looking forwards at how we will obey the passage, who we will tell our story/God’s story to and who we will train in Gods ways.