Blog #5

Remember the Sabbath and Keep It Holy

Our Uganda team worshiped at two different churches, and in both places we found ourselves standing on holy ground.

Each church had its own unique character, yet both were united in heartfelt praise and worship that made the presence of God unmistakably real. We heard powerful testimonies from parishioners and lifted our voices together in hymns of praise. During one particularly joyful hymn, the entire congregation rose and began to march around the outside of the building, singing about the journey to Canaan. It was worship that engaged the whole body and spirit.

One pastor and two community members each preached with hearts ablaze for the Lord. UCSS staff person Alison even led an impromptu dramatization of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, inviting congregants to come forward and act out the scene. It was unforgettable—one of those sacred moments that will stay with me, and with everyone present, for a lifetime.

The message woven throughout the service was clear and powerful: God sees. God hears. God cares. The worship was beautifully interactive. During the messages, we were often asked to turn to our neighbors and repeat phrases and scriptures aloud. What better way to experience the love of Jesus than by sharing it directly with one another?

The energy for the Lord never waned. As the service drew to a close and we prepared to return to our bus, we received an extraordinary gift. The church presented one of our team leaders with a gift of a live turkey. A live turkey. This is a very extravagant gift that surely took the church much time to raise money to buy! It was an honor beyond words and a profoundly humbling moment.

The church was exalted, and we were brought low before the Lord. Words of thanks feel inadequate, but this act embodied what John Wesley meant when he prayed, “Let me be employed by you or laid aside by you; exalted by you or brought low by you.”

The Lord was in this place. We truly stood on holy ground.