Every Nation, Tribe, People and Language
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” Revelation 7:9.
From every nation, tribe, people and language…these were the words that changed everything. Until that moment, I hadn’t really thought about what heaven would look like IF I made it there. I suppose I still had the Hollywood version of heaven in mind; where everything was white and angels with harps floated past on puffy clouds. The reality of an infinite, multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-lingual multitude standing before the throne of God…well, it blew my mind!
As a member of a Baptist Church with an overwhelmingly African-American congregation that I loved and where I was comfortable, I had to ask myself, “Did God intend for heaven to be the first time all of His people worshipped together?” Clearly, the conviction I felt in my heart, told me it was not. I shared my newfound revelation with Les and my desire for us to worship, serve and do life now with people who represented the “multitude”.
After much prayer, we followed God’s call to join Grace Alive (GA). Being part of a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-generational church plant has blessed me more than I could have imagined. I’ve been inspired by the young people and families committed to proclaiming the gospel and being the hands and feet of Jesus to expand my service. In the short time that I’ve been a member at Grace Alive, I’ve served as a Greeter, read stories to kids at Pendana, facilitated a breakout session for a Women’s Conference, fellowshipped with Grace Alive women, participated in small group book studies, helped with Thanksgiving basket assembly, filmed the first GA wedding, attended the first GA funeral, assisted with the first GA baptisms, hosted the Facebook chatroom, attended Dinner with the Pastors, and joined the Media Ministry and Eastside Community Group (“East Siiide”)! I have seen new GA families formed, new additions to families, and sadly, I’ve seen families move away, but they always keep in touch. Grace Alive has progressed from setting up and tearing down chairs at the YMCA and Edgewater School to holding service in a semi-permanent facility on Edgewater Drive to a permanent facility on Nowell Street.
But the best part is that Grace Alive encourages every member to not only Discover (know Christ), Deepen in (knowledge of) Christ and Display Christ (make Him known) themselves, but to help others in their journey. My life has been enriched through meaningful conversations with a group of ladies out at Don Julio’s or over a cup of coffee or at a backyard barbecue. Listening to the struggles and triumphs of others, praying for them and offering my testimony of how God has worked in my life through similar circumstances, has helped me deepen in my relationship with Christ. To thank him even more for His sacrifice, His grace and His mercy! I’ve also learned to humbly meet the ones who are closest to me, but farthest from God exactly where they are. And I’ve learned to always remember that “People are the Mission.” People – from every nation, tribe, people and language.
