REFLECTIONS
November 8, 2009
 
 
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42
 
 
Church Under the Bridge
 
 Rain or shine, hot or freezing cold, hundreds gather on Sunday mornings at an unlikely place to worship God. Between the sounds of eighteen wheelers rumbling across the concrete ceiling and a gravel carpet covering the dirt floor, the deprived, the wealthy, the loved, and the lost join in fellowship to share a meal, sing hymns, and to pray. It all happens under an interstate bridge in Waco, Texas. It’s called Church Under the Bridge.
We arrived before the service started and walked past a small group of 25 or so sitting in a circle on folding chairs. We watched them stand one by one to reveal the problems they faced during the week— altercations, addictions, incarcerations. It is a place they can confess their wrongs no matter the nature of them. They know they will find forgiveness there through the love of Jesus Christ.
A few concrete pillars away a long line formed to receive a free meal. For most it would likely be their only meal of the day. It seemed that no matter how long the line might be, there would be enough food for those who had no place to lay their head.
Between the two groups a small platform provided the stage for a few musicians. There to lead the worship service, they set up drums, electric guitars, a bass, and a washboard. There was energy in the music they played, but no more energy than we saw in the lead singer.
He strummed his guitar with fervor in every stroke. And his head danced from side to side as he voiced the words of the songs. He sang a few bars of one of them then stepped down to move about and shake hands with the congregation. Then in closer view we could hear that he sang off key and that his guitar had no strings. It didn’t matter. He was there to glorify God. And he did with all his heart.
The service took on the flavor of the first gathering of the church two thousand years ago. After Peter led many to Christ with his powerful sermon, they all came together in fellowship to share a meal and to pray. Among those newly baptized surely there were representatives of the deprived, the wealthy, the loved, and the lost.
That’s the way it is at Church Under the Bridge. It’s a place where those from all walks of life join together to become one. They share the love of Jesus Christ.
And isn’t that what church is all about?
 
“You are the light of the world.”
RichardÌ

www.reflectingthesavior.org.


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