| EXCHANGE OF IDEAS

 

When a group of friends chose to abandon the church, George and 29 other members decided to “stay firm” and began a new congregation of Seventh-day Adventist believers in Barrio Um, Mozambique. They worshipped under a tree at Clara’s place and prayed that one day they would have a church building.

 

“You can’t trust Adventists,” laughed their old friends. “They’ll forget all about you!”

 

Then one day George was invited by Maranatha Volunteers International to serve as translator for volunteers from New Zealand who were building a church in nearby Inhamissa. He agreed and quickly made “forever friends” with the Kiwi volunteers.

 

One day George asked if they could sponsor a One-Day Church in Barrio Um.

 

Conference leaders and Maranatha agreed, but discovered that the congregation had not been able to secure land for a church. That’s when Clara said, “We’ve been meeting in my front yard; let’s just put the church here!”

 

When the volunteer building team arrived, they raised the church in the open area between Clara’s bedroom and Clara’s kitchen.

 

Barrio Um is an active community with narrow lanes, extended family homes, and a gazillion children; all of whom helped measure steel, carry bricks, and sing VBS songs.

 

At the church dedication George said, “This church—the answer to our prayers—is confirmation that the Seventh-day Adventist Church does remember and care!”

 

Remember those old friends who’d made fun of George and the other believers in Barrio Um? Several came to the dedication. They sang. They prayed. They cried. And many said, “We’ll be back next Sabbath!”