Sometime in 2019, just before the Covid 19 pandemic, I blogged about our Reuben Tribe. It is like my very own oasis, grace from an all-knowing God, where thirst for the Living Word is quenched week after week.
Today, only five years later, I realize that so many changes have happened: Ate Miriam had gone home to Jesus (her wish in her last months), and so had Sis Blessie so unexpectedly. Several left for abroad or some place in the Philippines.
But this tribe, and so with all our church’s other tribes happening in other days and other places, remain inexorable. It cannot be stopped. New families have joined us and by grace, more will in the coming days.
We read about these different tribes’ activities on our church’s social media page. These remind us that we are headed in the same direction: toward the glory that awaits all believers.
The concept of tribes (also called cottage ministry or small groups) suddenly perked up at our church service last Sunday, when our invited speaker, CAMACOP’s missionary to Nepal, spoke of discipleship and its exponential growth in ancient days in Antioch (alas, not Jerusalem, where it all began). From his slides, we saw how the Word is likewise exponentially spreading where he and his family are assigned. What a challenge!
Aside from Bible study, sharing of praises and coming together in prayers, Saturday Nights are also times of celebration of milestones like birthdays, promotions, graduations, etc.
Fellowship with fellow believers is, for me, non-negotiable. It should happen if we wish to grow our faith.
In the years to come, there will be more changes in membership, but there will never be any change in purpose: to honor and glorify the Source of all Saturdays and days we live out on earth.
I fully agree with John Piper, one of the theologians and authors I frequently read, when he wrote, “Fellowship is a mutual bond that Christians have with Christ that puts us in a deep, eternal relationship with one another.”
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