The Spirit moves on Easter Sunday

On Easter morning, we were expectant. We believe that God is using the Gumuz believers on Gesses mountain to bring the good news to the villages around us. Two weeks earlier, Rolf had encouraged the leadership team to plan to celebrate Easter by inviting unbelievers to the church, by bringing the gospel songs into the village and by celebrating with goat meat and coffee or keya. We left for a week in Addis and returned just two days before Easter. We were disappointed to hear that the leadership team had not planned anything and in addition most of them were absent! Rolf spoke with the remaining elder of the church encouraging him to use this holiday to share the gospel and to fellowship together.

On the eve of Easter and again Easter morning, Rolf and I committed the Easter service to the Lord. We truly desired to see glory come to God whatever that looked like. We prayed that the Spirit would lead the Gumuz to celebrate Easter the way that He desired. And so we arrived at church expectant.

Church was filled with 80-100 men, women and children and the singing began. As the second song began, two women were called to pick up the drum pole standing against the wall and lifted up the large drum that was being drummed. Then the song leader led us out of the building, out of the church property and out on the road. Several women and children came running to join in the singing. We continued to move along singing the Gumuz Easter worship songs as we walked. More men, women and children joined us and our group grew. 

We walked to the edge of an unreached village and spent 1/2 hour singing songs of praises and the song of Jericho. The walls were coming down.  

Gumuz who have never entered a church building heard the songs of praise. The Spirit led the believers to boldly and joyfully enter villages worshipping and they were received gladly. And as we walked, our numbers increased and we returned to the church double in number. 

Two goats had been prepared and the meat was unusually plentiful. Coffee was served and all who came not only heard the gospel but their stomachs were satisfied. May the Spirit continue to lead Gumuz to take the gospel into villages that have not heard of the One who Saves.

Yes, even the little ones enjoyed goat meat this Easter.