Bridging the Culture Gap

It took our ACTION team three taxis and an hour of weaving through busy Kinshasa streets to reach the church we were to attend that evening. We entered a room with stone walls, large gaps in the ceiling and wooden benches. This was definitely not a North American church!

It was my evening to preach. I was handed a large badge that said “Pastor” and given a special seat on the stage. Church was to start at 5:00pm, but in Congolese culture that really means 7pm! We were expecting 300 people, yet only seven youth sat in the benches. The band started rocking and within minutes more people streamed in.

Dance is an integral part of Congolese culture, and everyone let loose during worship! The testimonies were heartfelt. The service continued for hours. These believers loved God, and their worship was one of the most moving and inspiring experiences of my life.

After the service, our Congolese friends asked us questions about life in Canada, about our youth and the biggest struggles we face as believers. I explained that many believe that because their physical needs are met, they don’t need God. I am convinced we need to encourage our youth not to view belongings as a replacement for God. Belongings are temporal. Only God’s saving love is eternal. As we shared with each other about both cultures, we agreed that the opportunity to do God’s work is limitless – in North America and DR Congo.

I cherish the memory of that evening. I received more than I was able to give through the beauty of our new friends’ love for God. Pray for the pastors of our partner churches in DR Congo. Ask the Lord to protect His children and young adults from temptation in a city ridden with crime and poverty. Pray for MB workers like Delphin, Pierre and Muller who minister to orphans and women in this war-torn country. Pray, too, for the youth you know in your area, that they would not rely on earthly things, but on Him.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Matthew 6:19-20

By Cory Bell