The story and above image come from "A Real Southern Gospel Quartet." It's my favorite story in Trampled Grass.
A REAL SOUTHERN GOSPEL QUARTET
Nothing connects with a person quite like truth in their heart language.
It was a church service like something out of the book of Acts. The worship was in full swing as we were ushered into the thatched roof church. If you’ve never been in an African church, you cannot fully understand full swing.
There’s was a radiant joy in the singing and clapping. In spite of the fact that most of the worshippers were refugees, the congregants sang joyfully at Faith Baptist Church in Nimule, South Sudan.
The singing ended, and a young pastor began his sermon. I was unsure of the language he was preaching. I only knew it wasn't English or Swahili.
After two sentences, he stops. A lady to his right translates. I have no idea what language she's using.
As she finishes, a man on the far right spoke. I still don't have a clue.
A fourth person, a young church leader, translates into something I understand—English.
As this quadraphonic sermon continued, we were told that the original speaker was preaching in Madi, the local language.
The woman on his right was using Sudanese Arabic, the trade language of this region.
The next man was speaking Murle, the language of most of the refugees present.
I wasn't sure if the English was only for our benefit or others in the crowd.
Madi. Arabic. Murle. English.
It was like the Book of Acts. Chapter 2.
Listeners were hearing the Gospel in their heart languages.
Nothing connects with a person quite like truth in their heart language.
The sermon in four languages went on and on. I always remind my American preacher friends, “Remember that using a translator doubles the length of your sermon.”
In this case, it’s times 4.
4x.
Madi, then Arabic, Murle, and finally English.
Spoken by four South Sudanese.
The Gospel in four languages.
A real Southern Gospel Quartet.
It's the best kind of all.
I wish you'd been there.
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