Our choir sang in a tent service yesterday. It was a Sunday service The speaker's name is Israel. He is from Nigeria. I find him to be a simple and direct speaker. He mentioned a few truths that I will not hear from a "Evangelical Church" in Germany.

Israel is from Nigeria and his wife is a German. They are called to start an orphanage in Nigeria. He shared about how this dream started and how it comes to realization through the grace of God. They bought a piece of land throug a the Gift of a German that they did not expect. There are much poverty in Nigeria, many children are abandoned by their parents. These children grew up on the streets and many are involved in gangs. They search for an identity, love, care and food to keep them alive. His dream is to help these children and let them know that they can be something in their life. 

Israel pointed out that even though the Nigerians do not have the material wealth possesed by the Germans but they have something more important. The people have very close relationship with God. Praying up to 10 hours at a go is something nothing out of the ordinary. The Germans are blessed with material wealth but they do not have a close relationship with God. He sees that there is a sense of hopelessness in this land. He stressed that it is important for them to have a close relationship with God. Each land can give each other something. My little heart asked, "What would the Germans reaction to this statement?".

Israel continue to share and almost at the end of the sermon, he requested if the congregation can give him another 5 minutes. Nobody said yes. There was a silence. I had been nodding my head and was asking SianLun, "How come the people would not even give the speaker another 5 minutes?"

There can be a few reasons, firstly they are not used to long sermons. I think the Germans in the "Evangelical Churches" do not have sermons longer than 20 minutes, so perhaps this is their limit. Secondly, Israel shared about some wonders and miracles that happened in Nigeria. I believe the people might be skeptical about his sharing, skeptical about wonders and miracles. I felt a tinge of sadness in my heart as I discussed this with SianLun. Why do we doubt that God is able to do miracles....

SianLun asked "Who are we to judge if another 5 minutes should be given to the speaker. Do we trust this person to be a messenger of God, bringing forth God's message and making it clear to us what we should know. If we do trust him to be God's messenger, what right do we have to tell him - excuse me you ran out of time. This is just so out of the mind." If a professor were to tell you that he/she need another 15 minutes to finish up the last class before the exam, would we just walk out of the class or tell the professor, I have enough, please stop talking?

This event cause me to be sad because I think my church did the same mistake before. My home pastor is a man of God and he has so much to share every Sunday. However, the members are not ready for this. It is very much like, the church service should finish in two hours, so please don't take more time than needed cause I would be late for my appointement type of attitude. I think we went over the limit when the church printed "Minutes card", we have I think 10 minutes, 5 minutes and STOP. Someone would show the cards at the end of the church - opposite the pulpit, so that the pastor can see the message. My pastor then mentioned that the people in China thirst for God's words so much that they walk day and night to listen to a speaker and they would listen for days, and only to take breaks for a meal. My pastors said my wish for you my congregation is to thirst God's word like the believers in China.

God used the congregation yesterday to show me my mistakes. I think I realised how my pastor felt when we were so impatient and cold towards God's words. Lord thank you for your patience and forgiveness. Please revive the churches in Germany and keep the believers in Malaysia on fire for you. May we be willing to give you the 5 minutes needed.

Have you given God your 5 minutes today?