Then Sings My Soul

by Kaylie Fenwick

We started today by going back to Akramaman for church, which was also at the primary school we have been working in. Our first blessing was to arrive and see that about 150 of the kids that came to Jesus camp yesterday were there as opposed to their typical 20-30 at church. They have never, ever, ever had that many kids at church before and we were so excited to see them come and many bringing the Bible’s we gave them yesterday!! To put the icing on that cake, the priest told everyone at the end of the service that they loved the Jesus camp and intend to continue putting one on each month to keep bringing kids back and pouring into the next generation!

The highlight of our morning was church. Many of our team members, including myself, were new to Anglican style of worship so this was interesting to learn and participate in something different. I have been so looking forward to church on this trip because my international background has led me to fall in love with the worldwide church and displayed the reality that we are one body, and we have brothers and sisters in Christ ALL over the world.

This is beyond beautiful because it crosses so many boundaries, borders, cultures, languages, and differences. I find it so amazing that I can meet these people who I have so few things in common with but we have such a strong bond in Christ and we get to come together and worship the same God together. It has also brought into focus for me that regardless of denomination or worship style, coming together to praise Jesus is to me one of the most beautiful things to see let alone take part in. Philippians 2:9-11 says “Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” The different ways in which my brothers and sisters worship are so beautiful to me because it shows God’s design and creativity in making people unique and yet all were made to worship Him. It’s not about the style or routine. It’s about praising God.

We heard beautiful music from the priest’s wife, Vero, and then our own Jason Boley delivered a short, powerful message about the Gospel, what it means to believe in Jesus and be saved, and then the encouragement to boldly share our faith with someone around us. We then had the opportunity to take the Lord’s supper as one body, sing songs, and then each person was anointed with oil and blessed. This was a powerful and beautiful moment that was only made more beautiful as I sat in wonder and thanked God for putting me here. Just outside the doorway, a man sat. The child beside him had a Bible and he borrowed it and would flip from page to page, curious, stopping to read briefly. As I watched, I was in tears. To get to see this man, who likely has never held a copy of God’s word in his hands holding something so precious and we had the privilege of delivering that. My heart aches that I can’t put a Bible in every set of hands. But it was a very powerful moment of seeing God’s hand at work.

After the anointing I got to teach the congregation a song of ours. We sang How Great Thou Art, even though it turns out they already knew it. This is a song I grew up on, that my great grandmother played every single morning on her piano. This and watching the man with the Bible had to be my favorite moments. This song is so close to my heart, that I have sang in multiple other countries just lifting God up with my brothers and sisters in Christ is a blessing beyond words. What a beautiful noise.

After the anointing I got to teach the congregation a song of ours. We sang How Great Thou Art, even though it turns out they already knew it. This is a song I grew up on, that my great grandmother played every single morning on her piano. This and watching the man with the Bible had to be my favorite moments. This song is so close to my heart, that I have sang in multiple other countries just lifting God up with my brothers and sisters in Christ is a blessing beyond words. What a beautiful noise.

Overall, today was a blessing to me. God is working in so many ways and I’m so thankful I just get to be here and be a part of it. I’m thankful for God’s church and the Jesus family I have to worship with, even if it might look different. There is beauty in differences. We worshipped this morning, and 3 hours later my Jesus family in Kansas worshipped the same Jesus. As someone goes to sleep on one side of the world, another is waking up on the other side to begin praising the Lord and that is a fantastic, beautiful, electric, never ending chorus. 

Hallelujah!!!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art