Daily Scripture Reading: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:1-17; Galatians 3:23-29

The year was 2006, and I was working as an apprentice for Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMF) in the northern part of Mexico City. Every four years, the CMF Board meets in one of the countries (outside of the U.S.) where its missionaries are serving. It was part of my job to assist the Mexico Field Team in hosting the CMF Board, as well as other CMF missionaries who were on furlough, or who were working in the States. We spent a week eating Mexican food together, sightseeing, visiting the churches, campus and community centers where the missionaries worked, and learning about CMF’s vision for furthering God’s kingdom in Mexico and beyond. Not only was I able to share what I had learned and loved about Mexico, but I was also able to learn about the kinds of work CMF missionaries were involved in around the world. After a week of building these relationships, I was excited to worship alongside all of my new friends that Sunday in my home congregation: Iglesia Cristiana del Norte.

A special, bilingual service had been planned that Sunday. Our worship planners had chosen songs that would be familiar to both U.S. Americans and Mexicans. We would have people native to the U.S.A. and to Mexico play in the band; both native English and native Spanish speakers would sing on the praise team. Claudia, our worship leader, was especially excited to have me sing in Spanish, while my Mexican friends would sing in English. We met early that morning to practice, and make sure everyone had their words down.

It began to storm as we were practicing, and eventually, the power went out. It was November, and rain was to be expected. Still, it was disappointing. Without power, the sanctuary would be cold, and since most Fall days in the mountains of Mexico are overcast, the room would remain dark. Without power, we couldn’t plug in our guitars or our keyboard, we couldn’t use our microphones, and most importantly, we couldn’t project words on the screen. So much for simultaneous translation.

Claudia circled us up, and prayed for power. Then, we got to work gathering candles (we could only find a few), locating hard copies of familiar hymns, and practicing a new, acoustic worship set. The power had yet to come on when our CMF visitors began to arrive. When it was time for the worship service to start, we still had no power.

One of the first things you learn as a missionary or minister is to be flexible, and that skill was needed as we began to sing the first song we sang every Sunday: Bienvenidos. This song is a Spanish tongue-twister, made even more complicated by the fact that everyone moved around dancing with and hugging each other while we sang it. Even on a normal Sunday, we would often have to stop singing the words and just dance. Our guests jumped in and joined us. They continued to join us in song, even attempting songs completely in Spanish. I was so thankful for Claudia and the others on our worship team, who patiently taught this mixed-group new songs.

After giving our visitors a taste of what church is like in Mexico from week to week, we came to the more familiar, bilingual part of our service. I can still hear us singing Abre Mis Ojos (“Open the Eyes of My Heart”) and Santo, Santo, Santo (“Holy, Holy, Holy”). As we sang I looked out at the congregation, and saw people of every color, of every language, of every nation, worshipping God. I couldn’t help but tear up when I realized that not only were people singing in English and Spanish, but in many other languages as well! I caught a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven in that moment, and it’s a moment I remember every time I hear the familiar melody of “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

As I wrote this story, I couldn’t remember when the lights came back on. I think that’s because we didn’t need electricity that day. What we needed was the light of Christ, and it shone brightly that day, and every day, when God’s people sing:

¡Santo! ¡Santo! ¡Santo! por más que estés velado, E imposible sea tu gloria contemplar;
Santo tú eres solo y nada hay a tu lado, En poder perfecto, pureza y caridad.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee, though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see, only thou art holy; there is none beside thee, perfect in power, in love and purity.

—Laura Fike