Sunday, 17 May 2009

• SALUDA, SC [breaking down barriers]

  

  [Josh and Jhonny leading worship at W Wyman King Academy in Saluda, SC]

  There are so many things that separate us...so many things that keep us apart from each other. We took a look at a few of these things with the students at W Wyman King Academy in April, 2009.

  

  Jhonny shared a couple funny stories about how language forms a barrier between people. Like the time he was playing ping-pong with a guy in Pennsylvania, and the guy got a phone call, was on his way out the door, when Jhonny asked him (with his Hispanic accent) "are you leaving?" The guy responded, "No, I'm fourteen." After a few repetitions, some frustration, and a little translation they finally understood each other. Language can keep us apart from one another.

  

  Cultural differences also separate us. Here Josh is illustrating the difference in personal space between cultures. It can be perceived as agressive and obnoxious to get this close to people in the US. But, if you keep more of a distance in other cultures, you can be perceived as aloof and uncaring.

  

  We had the kids singing songs in all kinds of languages...everything from Spanish to Yoruba (Nigeria). They really entered in and we could tell that the students really have come along way in terms of openness and participation in the 3 years that we have been going there. 

   

  

  Though the barriers are there, and effectively separate SO MANY people...the word of GOD in Ephesians 2 is clear:

   ¹⁴For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

  

  In an effort to help students personalize it, we took the chance to have some small group interaction and allow the students to process for themselves...we had some amazing discussions!

  

  [Jhonny, Tracy (Proskuneo Board Member), and Josh]

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