The Nations Gather | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Nations Gather | Previous Challenge Entry
By Beth Wilson
12/09/09
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We are together – again. My face already hurts from smiling. It has been three years since the volunteers and staff of our worldwide mission organization last gathered. From every region of the globe, we have come to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for our international conference. Over eighty countries are represented. The world is here.

This weeklong event will open with a parade of nations. The flag of every country in which our ministry is conducted will be presented. Whenever possible, a national will proudly carry their own colors. This evening is the most anticipated meeting of the week.

I enter the main auditorium and find myself surrounded by both familiar and new faces. Reunions and introductions are jumbled together. It is joyful chaos. Jet lag is a reality for the majority of these brothers and sisters in Christ, but their level of enthusiasm gives no evidence of fatigue.

The music begins. It is time. We all stand and turn our attention to the platform.

A large red flag – with an image of a two-headed black eagle – is carried out and waved. Albania is announced. The ceremony is underway. Since ministry is conducted in over one hundred and fifty of the world’s countries, this will take a while. No one is complaining.

Botswana is unfurled with its simple black and white stripe on a blue background. There is the familiar red and yellow of China. I see the large blue star of David – Israel is here. Japan’s red dot can’t be missed. My dear friend, Joseph, carries the Kenyan flag with its red, white, and black Maasai shield and spears. There is the green cedar tree of Lebanon, and the brilliant yellow sun rays of Macedonia’s banner. The platform is awash in color.

A lump forms in my throat. Tears roll down my cheeks. I am not the only one overwhelmed by the emotion of this celebration. There is hardly a dry eye in the building.

One by one, each country is triumphantly read. Cheers break out in small pockets of the crowd. Before long, though it feels we have only begun, I see Edmund step forward and wave the colors of Zimbabwe. The applause grows until it feels the room will burst.

I look around at our diverse assembly. We are a sea of variety – the Nigerians have the brightest fabrics, the Koreans the most elaborate traditional dresses. Our skin tones cover a vast spectrum. We are very light and very dark – and everything in between.

Australia. Europe. Asia. North America. Africa. Latin America and the Caribbean. We are all present, brought together from the widest of backgrounds. We are young and we are old. We know prosperity and poverty. We ride subways and walk dirt paths. Some of us minister in freedom, others suffer great persecution. Our differences are many, but tonight we are one - united in our hearts, bonded together in Christ, joined in a single mission to take to the Gospel to lost souls.

We lift our voices and begin to praise our Savior in song. Heaven is on everyone’s mind. I am convinced this is the closest I can get to a preview of eternity.

The Olympics don’t hold a candle to this night.

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