Heb 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” NIV

After a somewhat rocky start in my career as a relief missionary in Haiti, I was now beginning to enjoy reaching out to the native population, and as the first weekend approached, I began to look forward to my first visit to a Haitian church service. I decided to try to get to church early, but when I arrived 10 minutes before the service was to begin, I was flabbergasted to see that every seat was already taken! In fact, people were standing against the wall on both sides, as well as in the back. All of the windows were wide open, and huge crowds were standing next to each window. But what amazed me the most was that although all of these people were dirt poor, somehow they had managed to obtain fancy clothing for this weekly event! Coming from a home church where on a good day 30 people attend and there were ALWAYS empty seats, the obvious hunger these people had for God’s Word was astounding!

There wasn’t a microphone in the church, but it didn’t matter. The audience sat (or stood!) in rapt attention, focusing their full attention on the service. Even the children sat perfectly still, intently listening to each word of the speaker. And you should have heard them praise God! Most of them had little material wealth or security to praise Him for, yet they saw the fact that they could attend church freely as a reason for ultimate praise. It was obvious to anyone that these people lived to go to church. To skip would have been unthinkable! It was their highlight of the week, an event not to be missed!

Reflecting back on this, I often wonder why church attendance is so different in North America. Why are we, as members, so eager to skip whenever the opportunity arises? Some even neglect the assembly of the saints all-together, proclaiming they don’t need to associate with hypocrites. In a country where Bibles in many different versions abound, why are we not as hungry to hear what God has written to us?

Once a visitor from India attended a church in the United States. He was delighted to see the church so full, and the powerful choir touched his heart. When the pastor announced a prayer meeting at seven that upcoming Wednesday, he anticipated attending it with great pleasure. He knew that in India the prayer meetings were even better attended than the church services, because many who were not Christians came to these to receive miracles. If the church service on Sunday had been such a blessing, how much more, then, the prayer meeting? How would they even be able to accommodate the crowds?

His watch indicated that it was six-thirty when he arrived that Wednesday evening, but no one was there. In fact, the doors were still locked! He was confused. Had he misheard the pastor? He didn’t think so, so he decided to wait. It was ten minutes past seven before someone finally showed up and opened the doors. Half an hour later, the prayer service finally started, but there were only ten people attending, and the pastor was nowhere to be seen! The gentleman from India couldn’t believe his eyes. Where was everybody? Wasn’t anyone hungry to experience God in their live? He was even more disappointed when the service only lasted half an hour.

Is it possible that many of us worship God for His blessings rather than for the experience of getting to know Him? Is it possible that many fall away in North America because they perceive God as a Santa Clause, and when they do not obtain what they want, they simply move on to greener pastures, which in reality are nowhere to be found? Is it possible that God is knocking on the doors of our heart, but we are too busy to realize how near He really is to us?

Only God can make a difference in our life. He loves us and desires to have a personal relationship with each one of us. Will we let Him? Let us pray that we as His people realize that with Him we are everything, but without Him we are nothing. Let us pray that we start to realize how spiritually starved we are. Let’s pray that He will become OUR reality.

Attending church in Haiti was quite a revelation. Is going to church important to you?

Rob Chaffart