Independent Gospel Baptist Church

Sunday Morning: Church at Independent Gospel Baptist Church which Shaju Pastors

Independent Gospel Baptist Church

Sunday morning we were off with Shaju to his Church about 40 minutes away. It was a nice sunny day and hot even early in the morning! The drive was beautiful and interesting. We went through some more agricultural land with banana trees and tapioca trees and rubber trees. There are many rubber tree areas here. The ministry even has a small plot which generates some income for the ministry. It kind of reminds me of tapping Maple trees. They make a spiral cut around and down the tree and then suspend a “cup” to collect the rubber.

John Preaching with Shaju Translating

When we got to the Church they were holding their Sunday School. Most of the congregation is what they called “day Laborers” which means low paid workers, usually agricultural workers. Most walk to Church – some more than a few miles. One older man who finds it painful to walk still walks to Church and doesn’t accept rides. It was basically a one room Church and when we got there we were warmly welcomed.

90+ yr old Church Member 

As Sunday School ended and the service was about to begin, they started singing. The only instrument was a drum played very loudly. The singing was loud and passionate! Again the women were on one side and the men on the other. Children were in front and sat on the floor. After a number of songs they introduced us and John went up to preach. Shaju translated and the congregation listened intently. After the message they took a tithe. They had 2 plastic boxes on the table in front and first the ladies came forward and put their tithes in the box. Then the men. After this they had some singing and then took the offering. Again any who wanted to put something in the offering came forward and put it in the other box, first the ladies and then the men. These were all very poor people but almost all made either tithes or offerings. After the message we went to the back and everyone came by and shook our hands and welcomed us. One thing that is becoming very evident is that despite having very little, there is much worship going on here!