OPINION (Charisma) – Last weekend, I preached in a small but growing church in central Sri Lanka. There was no sign outside the building because it’s a private residence located in a crowded neighborhood. Most of the people who came to this meeting either walked or arrived in motorized rickshaws, so no parking lot was needed. The worship team consisted of two young men playing guitars and a third guy on a box drum. The small living room of this modest home had been transformed into a sanctuary and the 40 or so people who came to worship sat on plastic chairs or on the stairway. I didn’t need a microphone.
This church doesn’t use a sound system, a projection screen or fancy lighting. Yet God’s presence was tangible, especially when several people stood to pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The pastor of this congregation (I’ll call him Siresh) works a regular job during the weekâhe doesn’t take a salary from the church’s limited income. That’s fine with him because he wants to be in the marketplace all week, getting to know the community. He also regularly shares his faith when he plays cricket with a group of non-Christian guys. READ MORE
