Toad_Sticker
04-25-2009, 08:57 AM
When I was the pastor of a small church, we sometimes shared the facilities with a Laotian congregation that would meet on an irregular schedule.
One day I received a call asking "if it was all right to hold a revival service at the church" and that we would be invited to the meal afterward. Since I had never had Laotian food and heard how great it was I looked forward to this service.
When the day of the service arrived, a Korean pastor that I knew showed up saying he was invited also. I would guess about 100 Laotian people showed up and started singing in the church. My friend the Korean pastor Woong and I sat in the rear for two hours of singing and preaching by three pastors. In this whole time I recognized exactly two words "Jesus" and "Carey"( the town most of the people were from).
Toward the end of the service one of the pastors came around the back and whispered in Woongs ear and he got up and walked out. He returned a few minutes later and asked me to come out with him.
He explained the Laotian pastors wanted me to pray at the end of the service because some of the younger people didn't speak anything but English. By this time the pastor had returned to the front so I asked Woong "do you know what they were preaching about?" He just shrugged and said with a big smile "nope, I think they want you to explain what is happening to the people who respond to the invitation by thanking God for it" He said.
When the time came for an invitation, the pastors asked Woong and me to come up front with them.
I should say that I had planned on sitting in the back and having no one see me. I had been mowing earlier and had on old jeans and a tee shirt.
Several people came forward and prostrated themselves, giving their lives to Jesus.
Lots more singing and praying came after that which again I didn't follow then a pastor walked up to me and handed me the microphone and said quietly "you pray now" he then turned and started to walk away. After only a couple steps he turned back and looked at me and said in a loud clear voice "in English"
I looked at Woong and he looked at me and we both just about lost it. I mean what else was I going to pray in? Swahili? Despite my disadvantage of being on the verge of outright laughter I made it through.
We then had one of the better meals I've ever had. I even tried the Tripe.
If you've ever been in a similar situation in front of a large crowd, I'm sure you can see the humor in this. If not, count yourself lucky.
http://www.helium.com/items/884360-funny-preacher-stories
TS
One day I received a call asking "if it was all right to hold a revival service at the church" and that we would be invited to the meal afterward. Since I had never had Laotian food and heard how great it was I looked forward to this service.
When the day of the service arrived, a Korean pastor that I knew showed up saying he was invited also. I would guess about 100 Laotian people showed up and started singing in the church. My friend the Korean pastor Woong and I sat in the rear for two hours of singing and preaching by three pastors. In this whole time I recognized exactly two words "Jesus" and "Carey"( the town most of the people were from).
Toward the end of the service one of the pastors came around the back and whispered in Woongs ear and he got up and walked out. He returned a few minutes later and asked me to come out with him.
He explained the Laotian pastors wanted me to pray at the end of the service because some of the younger people didn't speak anything but English. By this time the pastor had returned to the front so I asked Woong "do you know what they were preaching about?" He just shrugged and said with a big smile "nope, I think they want you to explain what is happening to the people who respond to the invitation by thanking God for it" He said.
When the time came for an invitation, the pastors asked Woong and me to come up front with them.
I should say that I had planned on sitting in the back and having no one see me. I had been mowing earlier and had on old jeans and a tee shirt.
Several people came forward and prostrated themselves, giving their lives to Jesus.
Lots more singing and praying came after that which again I didn't follow then a pastor walked up to me and handed me the microphone and said quietly "you pray now" he then turned and started to walk away. After only a couple steps he turned back and looked at me and said in a loud clear voice "in English"
I looked at Woong and he looked at me and we both just about lost it. I mean what else was I going to pray in? Swahili? Despite my disadvantage of being on the verge of outright laughter I made it through.
We then had one of the better meals I've ever had. I even tried the Tripe.
If you've ever been in a similar situation in front of a large crowd, I'm sure you can see the humor in this. If not, count yourself lucky.
http://www.helium.com/items/884360-funny-preacher-stories
TS