A Worldwide Family of Faith

When the cruise ship pulled into the Bahamas we knew it was only for a short time. The gangway went down at 8:30AM and would be pulled up at 2PM. The 3400 passengers of the Carnival Glory wouldn't have much time to discover Nassau so, understandably, there was quite a rush to get off the ship. Kami and I weren't headed to the casinos at the Atlantis on Paradise Island nor were we going to shop the duty free diamond and liquor merchants that lined the docks. We wanted to find the church in Nassau so that we could worship on this cloudy, rainy Sunday morning in the Caribbean.

We'd found the address on the internet and written down the details so we thought getting a taxi would be a simple event. Wrong. The taxi drivers didn't know where it was so they called the number we'd also gotten from the Web and got directions from someone at the building. It would take three calls in all, two taxi drivers, and forty minutes before we were delivered to a medium sized white building in Highbury Park with the words "Church of Christ" written above its door. On the way there -- sometime between the second and third call -- the taxi driver turned to us and said. "We have Catholic churches here, right here on this block. How 'bout you go there? You don't get along with the Catholics?" I assured them that we thought Catholics were very nice people, but that we really wanted to find this particular group of believers, so he pressed on.

A lovely young lady opened the door and greeted us. She found out our names, gave us a bulletin, and led us into the auditorium to find us a seat. The brother teaching the class did a fine job getting others to speak out and offer comments. He greeted us with kindness and genuine warmth. While the building filled up for worship time we couldn't help but notice how many smiles were sent our direction. The young men and girls in front of us turned around during a standing song and hugged us.

At the end of worship, one of the elders stood up. His son had been in my congregation when I was in Morgantown, West Virginia. Sam Heastie was getting his doctorate in education at the time and was a wonderful friend and brother in Christ. To see his father stand up was a delightful surprise. Brother Heastie introduced us to the assembly and then told us that they had arranged a ride back to the ship for us. Two young ladies used their own car to drive us through torrential rain all the way back to the ship. They refused to let us buy them gasoline or lunch (the ride out cost us $20). Smiling, they waved us on.

This is not an isolated incident. All my life I have found refuge, friendship, and love anywhere I have found my brothers and sisters in Christ. I often wonder how people survive without a community of faith. Truth is, I know how they live. I saw the couples come back on the ship, angry at losing money, complaining about the weather, anxious to hit the bars. We came back walking on air supported by the love of those who love God.

The church -- what a wonderful gift! Those people who want Jesus but not the church don't have a clue at the blessing they are tossing away. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord and embrace the church.