Commentary
If there is just one clearly obvious piece of information that presents itself to us time and time gain, it is this – that we live in a world, in a creation - which is filled with diversity! Christians believe that even within the Godhead – within the very nature of God – diversity is in abundance. So the month of November – perhaps more than any other month in the year, was a good time to celebrate nations at the Arlington Christian Bible Fellowship Church in Texas.
The ministry at Arlington Christian Fellowship, which began about a decade ago in the Dallas-Fort worth metropolitan neighborhood with a rich Liberian pedigree under its charismatic pastor, Dr. Theo Bessman Elder (photo), is now home to many Sierra Leoneans and other nationals around the metroplex.
Nearly 300 people from different nationalities piled into the chapel of ACBF Church on Sunday to partake in the climax of a month long celebration of diversity. The program of celebration includes brief history of different countries, music and performances, wearing of traditional attires, and anecdotes.
The celebrations in general were a collaborative, joyful experience with many involved in planning, participating and leading. It was an opportunity to be inspired and renewed by the Gospel of Christ and his many diverse loyal followers.
But an extremely important principle of being a family in Christ, being a community of faith – is that there is, and will be, diversity. Therefore, the month of November, was a good period to talk about this diversity, and where it, too, fits into the life of our Church. The three main points the congregation will take away from this celebration are that:
1. Diversity is God’s delight.
2. Diversity in Christ is God’s calling for the Church, and
3.Celebrating diversity in Christ builds his church.
The icing on the cake for the final Sunday for the celebration of nations was a baptism service performed by Pastor Dr Theo Bessman. Prior to the baptism rites, Dr Bessman reiterated the purpose of the celebration of the Christian mystery, “Holy baptism is not just to make one a Christian, but the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. In other words, the candidates for baptism have accepted Christ as their personal savior.
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