This morning I was picked up about 8:30 by Pastor Doumale to go to the Bimbo Church which is a small little neighborhood church tucked deep inside the homes. When I arrived there were probably 25 people sitting on the benches. The choir was singing and everyone turned their head quickly to see the “Boon-joo” (white man) walk into the church.
As the service went on, more and more people gathered and sang. I preached from Luke 9, a portion of what I taught on a Wednesday night back home not too long ago. Pastor Doumale got his doctorate from Grace in the 80’s and his English is still fairly good. He said he had no problems translating what I said and that the message was well received. Who really knows.
I told the church that I wanted to greet them all after the service was done and take some pictures. So after the service was over they all came out and shook my hand, from children to young people to the women and then the men. It was a special time. Afterwards I took some pictures and it doesn’t take long to attract a crowd when you break out a camera.
Pastor Doumale and I went back into the church while they counted the offering. I figured he was going to take it with him and put it wherever they do for safe keeping since he is the pastor who oversees this church. He pastors the very first Grace Brethren Church in Bangui called Castor and has followed some well known African Pastors. He has been in the ministry for 40 years.
Just before we left, one of the deacons or elders who was counting the offering handed me an envelope with $2,650 francs in it. It is roughly equivalent to five or six dollars in the states as my payment and thank you for preaching that morning. I am sure that more than half of the entire offering that morning was given to me.
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