Today's church service at the English-speaking church we attend in Kigali, (Christian Life Assembly, or CLA) was an interesting juxtaposition for me of church messages 35 years ago and today. It was around 1981 that my dad, a paster in the United Methodist Church, studied for his D.Min and wrote his dissertation on the importance of small groups in the church. Embarassingly, I don't think I've ever read his dissertation, but I've always believed in the central importance of small groups. My Dad did, too, obviously, and so do people today!
At CLA they call small groups "cells" and they are small groups meeting in people's homes on Wednesday evenings. The word "cell" refers to how every living being is made of cells. (Not referring to prison cells!) At CLA, they're purposeful in promoting it and supporting it with Cell Ministry Retreats, etc. Today a good part of the worship service was devoted to promoting joining a cell. I've been tentatively exploring it. In December I got the name and number of the cell leader in my neighborhood. I called and he called back. Still haven't gone, though. So the encouragement today was a good idea.
The "cell ministry" team had a good skit. First each of about 8 people walked across the stage silently carrying a sign with their excuse for why they said "no" to joining a cell. (Nice music was playing in the background.) The signs had words like:
- Too Boring
- Too Busy
- I don't speak a local language (the one white-person had this one!)
- They don't keep time (this guy was marching)
- The people are not my age.
- I am a mature Christian
I'm hoping to find a small group here. They say they have one in Kibagabaga!
