Transforming Us! – 2 Corithians 3:17

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

It was an incredibly busy weekend. On Friday I presented a paper at an academic conference in Pretoria, South Africa. Saturday was spent driving back to Gaborone (248 miles) and preparing a sermon to be used the following day. On Sunday, I tiredly conducted the morning worship service in Ramotswa in “auto-pilot” and was just about to head back home, when I was approached by one the parishioners. He shared with me that I was now expected at a special ecumenical prayer service in the village of Taung concerning those infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS.

I really didn’t want to go. Although I had somehow hoped that someone would offer to take my place, I soon discovered that the whole congregation was planning to attend and they really wanted my there too. Yes, as much as I wanted to dig in my heels and say “no,” something inside me prodded me to have a change of heart. Truly God works in mysterious ways.

That prayer service turned out to be a moving and spirit filled experience that touched me to the very core. Several different churches were present at the prayer meeting- Pentecostals, Roman Catholics, Zionists, Congregationalists as well as groupings that I could not readily identify. Although different in theology and liturgical practice, it was the unifying belief in Christ Jesus, the power of prayer, and a need to lift up praises to God through song, that gave witness to the truth of those words… “the Lord, who is Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever degree of glory.”

God, thank you for your transforming presence that changes our hearts when we are open.

James & Jayanthi Wilson, members of Cairo-Jacksonville Pastoral Unity Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Cairo, Missouri serve with the Kgolagano Theological College in Gaborone, Botswana. Jim serves as an instructor. Jayanthi works as librarian and helps at the Sedibeng Centre.