“First time in 10 years”

One recent Sunday service a man got up to share during our open share time. It’s the time when the church members have the opportunity to share or sing a song or somehow participate in the church service. Well, this time God moved and more people than usual got up to share. I started to worry that Slava, our pastor, won’t have time to give his main sermon. However, we let the people come up. It was already 20, 15 minutes till the end of the service. Then one man got up, a fire truck driver, a big man with a strong and powerful voice. When he speaks everybody is almost shaken and his voice puts a little fear into everyone. It’s impossible not to listen to this man. This was his first time in 10 years sharing in front of the church, a victory for him he shared. A time when he overcomes his fears of his failures and troubled past. He shared a two chorus poem about one legged people that live in the north, who can only walk and run and therefore live if they hold each other in their arms – that way they have both legs to walk on. It was his metaphor for the church – we can only truly live when we embrace each other and hold each other in our arms. I think it was the most powerful sermon that day that anyone has heard.