Written by Angie Ruckman
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Sundays are church day for most people in Ghana.
Whether one lives in an apartment in the city or a mud hut in a remote village, Sundays are for dressing in your best clothes and going to church. Most Ghanaians do not own a vehicle so many will walk to church. During the dry season, mothers dressed in an array of beautiful, bright colors with babies on backs and children in tow will use an umbrella to shield from the sun. In rainy season, random torrential downpours send the walkers scrambling to a canopy or overhang for cover until the rain has subsided. (I never cease to be amazed at how their white Sunday dresses stayso sparkling white despite the mud!)
Taxi drivers pass by regularly honking their horn to see if someone wants a ride. If one can afford the lorry fare they will ride at least part of their commute. As prices have risen, many cannot afford more than a Sunday morning taxi ride for church. Often because of unexpected delays, church starting time is relative and services last for hours.
Most Ghanaians are very religious and churches can be seen everywhere.
There are no noise ordinances here so one has to turn his speakers up louder to drown out the next churches service. Ghanaians love to sing with all their hearts. One might hear a familiar hymn followed by a song in a local dialect. At times, one might also hear speaking in tongues or loud, unearthly demonic noise. Although there are churches of every kind in Ghana, the charismatic church is by far most prevalent;and even Catholic churches have charismatic influence.
As far as the preaching, zeal is the norm, but knowledge is lacking. This is to be expected when preaching is a profession that brings more prestige and money than most and many are not educated in the Bible. Religion is a way of life. It brings joy and hope to a people who have more than their fair share of struggles. Unfortunately, the mysticism of the charismatic movement blends easily with the mysticism of animalistic practices so most are blinded by a false hope and an empty knowledge which has been added to age- old beliefs.
If asked if one thinks he will go to Heaven when he dies, the common answer is, “Yes, because I am trying to please God. I read the Bible and go to church.” Some will answer also that they have accepted the Lord as their Savior, but they add that one has to also do good works. These very sincere people need to understand true salvation. Only God can lift the blinders from their eyes. Please help us pray for them to understand the simplicity of the gospel.
Note from Tori
While reading this article my mother-in-law sent me I became challenged to guard my attitude toward church. Do wake up with a sense of drudgery or excitement? Am I enjoying the privilege of being able to go? Or am I dreading the day?
It is easy as a mom of young children to feel like there is little or no point in even being at church. The energy we pour into the day can easily leave us feeling exhausted. Why even go? We rarely get anything anyway and the children certainly don’t.
Dear mama, I hope that a glimpse of these African women walking with children on foot, sometimes through rain, encourages your heart as it did mine to wake up Sunday morning with a sense of joy that we GET to go to God’s house. We GET to bring our babies to church! We may be in that nursery or wrestling children the entire service, but we get to do it in a clean, air conditioned building.
We have so much to be thankful for! Let’s not take the privilege for granted.
