The Church With No Walls

Action #5

This past Sunday, I attended the Church Without Walls in Elkhart. According to the church's website, the Church Without Walls is affiliated with Mennonite Church USA, but the service differed greatly from any other Mennonite church I've attended! The congregation was very small (around 30 or so adults) and predominantly African American. All the members of the church were very welcoming and friendly, and I enjoyed being able to worship alongside them that morning. I was surprised at how late the service actually started -11:00, but I will admit that it was a rather welcome change,since I am used to getting up around 8:00 every Sunday morning. The church service itself was quite simple, but the congregation got very involved in both the singing and the message. Two women led the worship, which consisted of them singing along to a gospel music track playing in the background. There was hand-raising and clapping throughout the entire worship time. While I do not see much of that in the Mennonite church I attend while here in college, it reminded me of the church I attend in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The pastor's message was frequently answered with shouts of "Thank you, Jesus!" and "Amen!" While I had often heard of this kind of enthusiastic response one experiences when attending an African American church, it was really neat to get to experience it for myself. I was struck with the church members' love and reliance on God in the midst of difficult situations. Many of them spoke of situations in their life that I rarely hear the people I tend to hang out with ever talk about going through. All in all, though the service was definitely different from what I am used to up here in America, it was nice to get to involved in this vibrant church community for a morning. As a future teacher, I am sure I will come in contact with children hailing from many diverse religious/denominational backgrounds, and I believe it is helpful to get an idea of where they are coming from. As I left the church, I reflected on how lovely it will be when all of Christ's followers are gathered in Heaven, singing together. There will be African Americans singing and swaying to gospel beats, Latinos jumping and clapping, American Mennonites singing in four part harmony... all glorifying Christ. I am sure it will sound beautiful, and actually, I suppose that is what God hears every Sunday!