Oranges, mangos and James Bond

Monday was another busy day. A visit to the womens’ prison in central Maputo (see previous post), a number of individual conversations and then preparation for future talks. Mozambique’s capital is, according to the guide books, a growing destination for foreign tourists. That will have to wait for another visit though.

Pastor Inochi had invited us to share with younger adults (20’s and 30’s) at his church that evening. So, once again, we criss-crossed the city to meet another group of Mozambicans.

This church was not one that had the benefit – or strictures – of a formal, permanent building. Their hall was rented by the hour. Everything needed for the service had to be transported and set up beforehand, then packed up and removed afterwards. That included two over-size speakers – they do not seem to worry about noise abatement notices here!

After a few heart-felt songs, the Pastor introduced us to the twenty-five or so present. He had asked us to share our ‘stories’, with a particular aim of encouraging these young adults in their work lives. In particular, that their current and future careers were opportunities for Kingdom work.

As is often the case in the UK – and no doubt other countries – there was a perception in the Mozambican Church that there was some form of sacred/secular divide between ‘Christian’ and ‘secular’ work. Pastor Inochi wanted to challenge this.

Lindsay explained that if such a sacred/secular divide existed, then it was not one that was grounded in Scripture. Rather, ‘whole life discipleship’ meant just that – a life where every single part was dedicated to the service of God. Yes, she was a Pastor, but she was no more a “Full-time Christian worker” than anyone employed in any other occupation, or in none at all.

The orange and the mango? We had bought one of each a couple of hours previously. Lindsay used a knife, borrowed from Casa Koinonia, to cut both into half.

The orange divided, of course, into separate segments. Lindsay then explained that the call on us as Christians was NOT to have separate compartments within our lives – e.g. one for Church, one for family, one for recreation and another for work. Rather, everything was part of God’s purpose and should be surrendered to Him. We are to be much more like mangos, which have no individual sections but have at their heart a stone core (Jesus). A simple, yet deep message.

Lindsay used a second illlustration, that of James Bond – the Mozambicans all seemed to be familiar with 007! She reminded them that Bond was an agent. ‘M’ would send him out on a mission, equipped with techno gadgets by ‘Q’. As a Pastor, she saw an important part of her role to be like that of Bond’s quartermaster, equipping others to be ‘sent out’ by the Church to take part in God’s mission, wherever they had been called to be,

There were a number of deep conversations afterwards. This group of younger adults clearly wanted to do something to influence change within their country, to be agents of change. And maybe there is something else important here, for another blog – that to ‘be’ is at least as important as to ‘do”….