Did you ever listen to an unplugged music album? Honestly, I didn’t even know what an
unplugged album was until I received
one as a bonus feature along with a CD I had purchased. Even then, I had to listen to it before I
knew what the difference was. An
unplugged album is one in which there are no “plugged in” instruments. It’s usually just an acoustic guitar or piano
– no digitalized, souped-up add-ons. There
aren’t any electric guitars, base, loud drums, or digital sound effects added. It’s just the raw, real deal. Unplugged recordings are softer, more natural
sounding. I read that it’s easier to
hear the real talent that an artist has in an unplugged recording, because there
aren’t all of the extras to make it sound
just right. I came to realize that I
really enjoyed my unplugged music CD sometimes more than the original with
which it came. The simpler worship music
has an ability to pierce the soul. Often,
the unplugged music is what I choose to listen to when I want to really connect
with the Lord in a quiet time of worship, and unplug (so to speak) from the
louder, demanding life-situations around me.
This Easter Sunday was an incredible day. I felt like I lived Easter for the very first
time. It was Easter, unplugged. The feeling blew me away.
The setting? We spent
our Easter morning in the village of Alfari.
Over 3 months ago, this village had been unreached with the gospel. When Jonathan and a team of Nigerian pastors
and Christians first traveled there to share the gospel, the hunger and
response to the love of Jesus was incredible.
Now, just weeks later, we had the privilege of joining the new believers
of Alfari as they celebrated their first Easter as followers of Jesus, the
Crucified, Risen, and Exalted Lord. It was
the experience of a lifetime! To sit
with them, to see the joy on their faces, and hear the passion in their prayer
and worship was incredible, especially in light of the fact that less than 3
months ago, they had never heard about Jesus.
Now He has changed their lives forever.
Jonathan had the privilege of sharing the Word, and
spoke about how Jesus' death on the cross made salvation available to us, by
faith, as a free gift. The people
sitting under the straw structure are mostly the brand new believers, while
other curious observers gathered in groups all around the compound, inside and
out, to hear and see the service.
Over a hundred children came this Easter Sunday.
As I sat on a mat on the ground, my children cuddling around
me, looking around at group after group of people clustered around, inside and
outside, the rough, mud compound, I couldn’t escape the feeling, “Wow! This is the REAL deal!” This was sitting with people who had never
heard about what Jesus had done for them until someone came to their village to
tell them. This was sitting with people
whose lives had been dramatically changed in just weeks. This was sitting with hundreds more who had
not yet heard, but were hearing NOW, where hearing TODAY. Jesus died to take the punishment of our
sin. But He’s not still in the
grave. On the third day, HE ROSE
AGAIN! Death has no power over Him. He is alive, and He cares. He has made eternal life, His love, His joy,
His peace available to us. It’s a FREE
GIFT.
This is what Easter is really
all about.
This group of curious ladies listened to the gospel, probably
for the first time, over the
compound wall. Note how everyone (under the tree) edges into the shade as much as possible. With temps hovering between 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit, it's hot! We all avoid the direct sunlight like the plague. :)
Most people have never seen a guitar out in these
remote villages. Jonathan's Scripture
songs catch everyone's attention. Here
he is singing, "Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE" in Hausa.
So much has been added to the Easter holiday that in
celebrating we often forget the original reason why we celebrate - the REAL reason. I know, I know we don’t really forget, but in the past I’ve found that it’s so easy
to get caught up in all the fun projects, the decorating, and the dazzling
consumerism, that before I knew it, I’d poured hours into doing all the "fun
stuff", and oh, yeah, on Friday and Sunday, let’s take a few hours to think
about Jesus. My experience here in Niger
is stripping that away from me, because there IS nothing here BUT Jesus.
In such great poverty where all the
razzle-dazzle of our Easter traditions are obsolete, I have found great
wealth. It is in the simple devotion to Jesus,
our Resurrected Lord.
This Easter, I am
thankful for the people of Niger, who are teaching me and showing me, once
again, what really matters. I am still
carrying the wonder and the beauty of Easter in my heart. The raw, real deal - no extras added. Nothing but Jesus, and Him, crucified,
buried, resurrected, exalted.
Jesus in all His power. Wow.
That’s Easter.
Unplugged.
Our family is standing in the brand new church
compound with Alfari's two Bible School Students, Yakuba and Issufu. These young men are growing incredibly in the
Lord, and are already assisting their pastor with what they are learning in the
Bible School. Directly behind us is
where the new church will be located.
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