Africa Now! Celebration is Highlight of Evening

Bishop Machado and his mission team from Mozambique led in the celebration

 

The beat of African dreams opened the Africa Now! celebration, Tuesday evening.

The Woodlake Connect Band and Jessican Morgan School of Dance presented "All the Nations" with song and dance.

The Scripture, Psalm 103:1-5, 17-18, 22,  was read by a guest from Mozambique.

Drew Colby talked about a mission trip he took and their work at the Tinga Tinga school in Mozambique. They  met with the youth of central church and learned that they all share the same problems.  "Christ was with us every step of the way."

Jen Score, a member of Crossroads Church in Northern Virginia, reported on a clinic and school in Uganda called Humble Place. Part of this year's offering will help the medical clinic. She said her life was transformed when she visited Uganda. She introduced the Rev. Daniel Wandabula, dean of district superintendents in Uganda. He brought greetings from his bishop in the East Africa Conference. "The teams that come bless us a great deal. We've received medical teams, help with construction, people who bring their gifts and graces. All this makes a big difference in Africa." He said that sometimes the Africans feel like they have nothing to offer in return, but "I hear people's lives are changed."

After a hymn led by the Mozambique team, a presentation was given by Judy Worthington on the Child Resue Centre in Sierra Leone. They live with wars and natural disasters, she said. Worthington talked about a mission trip she took to the center and it was "made visible to me." She visited a family whose home had been destroyed by war and they survived on one meal a day but they shared what they had. She met children whose parents were killed in war. "When you touch the life of an invisible person, they become visible. When they touch your life, your heart grows," she said. "I cherish them. They are no longer nameless, faceless children in a foreign country." Churches in the Virginia Conference reached out to them.

Three students from Africa University told of the difference the school has made in their lives.

A recent graduate of Africa University recalled how his mother told him when he was in primary school that she was investing in him. "Don't make me poor for nothing. Make me poor for something."  He continued, "Africa University is an investment of many annual conferences... an investment for the future of Africa. Knowledge is one of the treasures that cannot be taken away from people. Knowledge will be left for the children of Africa."

Africa University is a unique United Methodist institution, he said. He said many used to leave the country for education and never return. Africa University has changed that.

The next student to speak said, "I'm there to serve my country." He won a scholarship. "It is a great experience to be at the university, an institution of multicultures. It has proved to be a foundation of prosperity and spirituality."

The third speaker was a theological student. "The school provides good leadership, so we expect good leadership in Africa, and good leadership in the church." Students are trained to know the Africa environment and trained to be peacemakers. So, United Methodist Church, Virginia Annual Conference, you have a good investment. Congratulations."

The African Choir from Arlington United Methodist Church presented "Peace Be Still," and the medley, "Shout."

Bishop Machado's Sermon

"The United Methodist Church is a mission church.  I know, because we here about Uganda, Sierra Leone, Mozambique. We are really a mission church. I want to thank God because we know we are here for a mission.

"Our mission is not only making disciples through the war, but through action and social work. In Africa you do not have to say so much, but what you do brings members."

The bishop talked about dedicating a well. He said people are dying because of lack of water. He said wells are like temples. "Our water is important. But also we have a spiritual water." The whole community was there waiting for the bishop. After the service an old woman came went into the middle of the people and started dancing and sang, "This is the church, this is the church." She was used to traveling for two days to get 10 liters of water.

He said many people with HIV are sickened more by bad water.

In Tinga Tinga, they have only one woman who can read.

"Our church is connected. Each thing you do that you think is so small, it is precious."

"We can do better when we are together. We are one church. The church of Christ is one body."

The bishop extended an invitation to visit Mozambique. "I ask people to come and I know you are afraid... especially since 9/11. But Jesus said, 'Peace be with you. Peace be with you.'"

He has been talking to people about the AIDS problem in Africa. President Bush promised to give $3 million to Africa to combat AIDS three years ago, but people are dying. Many billions are being spent in Iraq. Bishop Machado urged Virginia United Methodists to contact their representatives to help combat AIDS.

After the sermon, the Rev. Doris Byrd invited missionaries and those who have been on mission trips to the front of the stage.