by: Bob Reccord
This last weekend I spoke at the United Nations. Or at least, it felt that way.
I was in Washington DC speaking at Word of Life Church in Springfield, Va. Dr. Wendell Cover, the senior pastor, has been there for 30 years as of this March. He is steady, trustworthy, solid in his belief of the trustworthiness of the Word of God, and greatly respected by his people. He’s not flashy…but steady. Not charismatic…but solid as a rock. Not pulled by trendy fads…but consistent over the years.
And when I was privileged to speak to his congregation I found a people who loved their Lord and celebrated their faith. And they represented over 90 nations. That’s right…over 90!!!
When we worshiped through the observance of the Lord’s Supper at the end of the morning service, for each element they had someone pray in their native language, and then someone else translated in English. It was amazing!! I could have gone on listening to that for a long time…just hearing people from all over the world pray in the language they had learned at home growing up. Yet, God’s providence had brought them all to the U. S. and to one church where they all enjoyed worshipping…TOGETHER.
And I wondered why are most of our churches in America not like this? After all, that’s what eternity with the Lord will be like.
After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!†(Rev. 7:9, 10)
If that’s what eternity will be like, shouldn’t we be living..and worshipping…that way now?!? So why aren’t we? And what are we going to have to do to get there?
I’ll share with you from first hand experience…that’s the way to worship!
I’m sorry I missed you speaking so close. I took a few moments to read some of the other entries on the page. As for the “small hinges” I just want to say that I am no Hank H., but I can not explain the impact that all of the Sunday mornings, with you at Carmel Baptist Church and dinners at the house, had on me. You probably won’t remember our family, Bob and Beverly Greene, but today, 20+ years later after a soccer career turned into a call to full-time ministry, I (Robert) am pastoring in Richmond, VA and have planted new congregation in the heart of Virginia Commonwealth University. The diversity is “as it should be”…a taste of eternity.
But, whenever anyone asks me about who has had a profound impact on my life and my decision to become a pastor; this door always credits you as one of the hinges that made it happen.
Maybe I can thank you properly sometime soon.
I’m glad I found the blog…can’t wait to keep reading.
I’m sorry I missed you speaking so close. I took a few moments to read some of the other entries on the page. As for the “small hinges†I just want to say that I am no Hank H., but I can not explain the impact that all of the Sunday mornings, with you at Carmel Baptist Church and dinners at the house, had on me. You probably won’t remember our family, Bob and Beverly Greene, but today, 20+ years later after a soccer career turned into a call to full-time ministry, I (Robert) am pastoring in Richmond, VA and have planted new congregation in the heart of Virginia Commonwealth University. The diversity is “as it should beâ€â€¦a taste of eternity.
But, whenever anyone asks me about who has had a profound impact on my life and my decision to become a pastor; this door always credits you as one of the hinges that made it happen.
Maybe I can thank you properly sometime soon.
I’m glad I found the blog…can’t wait to keep reading.