I had just one course to re-take, and lecture for this course was slated for two times in a week. So, I had an ample time to myself to engage in other things. I moved from living on campus to living off campus. My apartment was a walkable distance from campus though.

Also, the church I attended was not far from my apartment. So, I could walk to school and church spending little money on transportation.  This was a big plus for as I had close to nothing financially at that time.  I accommodated a friend who also had to re-take a course at that time. I remember all through my days on campus as a student, I’ve had to accommodate one person. So, I didn’t have the opportunity of staying alone as it were.  My roommate was a pleasant, funny girl. I was happy she stayed with me.

Serving in Church

Asides attending lectures, I had the privilege of serving as a steward in the church I attended. This was a big deal for me because the first chance I had as a steward in the church I attended while living on campus, I blew it. It is a great privilege to serve in a church as a steward in whatever capacity; either as a greeter/usher, or as a member of the choir, or as a children/teenager’s teacher. So, I was privileged to serve as a greeter/usher in the church.

This was a big deal for me because I got another chance to tell God I love Him not just in words but in action. I got the chance to tell God that I appreciate all He’s done for me. I tell Him this not just in words but in service, in helping make the church a comfortable place for people when they come in to worship.

As a child of God (born again), it is good you throw yourself into serving God in His house-the Church. Imagine this scenario; you live in a house with your father, he pays the bills, makes sure there is food in the refrigerator so you can eat and be fine. He goes all out to make sure you have a good education, have good clothes on and all. Some of the least things you can do as a child, as a way of saying “Thank you Daddy” is to: do the dishes, keep the house clean and probably do the laundry.

I love service to God

I was a greeter/usher in church, besides greeting people when they come in to church, we show them to their seats, we also make sure the church was clean. While the praise/worship session is ongoing, people still come into the sanctuary.

Greeting people and ushering them to their seats when they come to the sanctuary require the whole of one’s attention. We had to smile, sometimes shake hands, then direct them to their seats. I loved doing this (welcoming people to church) but I didn’t want to miss out on the praise session or the sermon.

So I asked God to help me to welcome people, and participate fully in the praise session and listen to sermon with the whole of my heart, all at the same time. I didn’t want to miss out on anything and prayed to God and He answered me. I was able to greet people with a lovely (sometimes huge smile) and connect with God during the worship and sermon sessions.

Growing as a I served in Church

Every unit in my church had someone as the head. They were called “Head of unit”. The head of my unit was (still is) an architect and the lady assisting her was lovely Chloe. Chloe was a member of this unit. A pretty lady, with an awesome smile. I learnt somethings from her; (1) know God for yourself. After listening to sermon in church, go home, read and study your bible. (2) Love God and love people, no matter how difficult they are. (3) Smile always.

As members of this unit, we were given assignments. Often times, we would listen to one of the sermons preached by our Pastor and we were asked to write out what we learnt from the sermon and how we plan to apply what we’ve learnt. These assignments were very helpful for me because it gave me the opportunity of studying my bible, I also developed the habit of listening to sermons preached by my Pastor and these helped to deepen my intimacy with God.

Our unit was full of love. We had a Medical doctor, an architect, an entrepreneur and students amongst us. We loved each other, and we looked out for each other not just in church but outside of church as well.

Learning to act on God’s word

I had a swell time in this unit. I saw the love of God (through people) in action. People loved one another purely and genuinely, not for any selfish reason. I saw people act on God’s word and they got results. People share awesome testimonies of how they acted on God’s word and they got results. I became curious. I told God I wanted to have that experience too, to act on God’s word and get results.

Here’s a reason I never had that experience because I wasn’t diligent enough to study and meditate on God’s word (the bible basically), in order to know what God has said, so that I can act on it and get results. Really, it is what you know, that you can act on and get results.

In our walk with God, prayer is important so also is meditating on God’s word. One cannot be substituted for the other. I discovered that the moment I started meditating on God’s word, things took a new dimension in my life. As members of the greeting unit, we had to sit at the back row in church. It was close to the main entrance. We could see people from a distance, a while before they step into the auditorium.

So I heard my word

My membership as a greeter was cut short as I heard God on a Sunday morning while Pastor was preaching. He said to me: “I will take you from the back seat to the front seat”.

You know what? There is something about hearing your word when your Pastor is preaching-(the word God has for you)whenever you attend church service(s). By this word, you are transformed, by this word, you make progress.

Read Changing status

John 6:63 says “…The words I have spoken to you are from the Spirit. They give life”.

Also Isaiah 55:11 says: “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”.

The word became flesh

God’s word on the lips of your Pastor has the power to move you forward, to transform you. That is why it is good to prepare your heart before going to church. Pray and ask God to help you by His Spirit to hear your word-the word you need to move from where you are to where you ought to be. In the same vein, you have to be in the right church, where God would have you be so that you can hear the word that will move you forward. God is the one who sets the solitary into families. Psalm 68:6. Ask God to show you the family(church) He would have you be a member.

I was born into a family-my father, my mother and my siblings. As a child, the things I needed for growth are made available in my family. The food, the love, the discipline, the encouragement, the counsel, name it, God has designed that I get those things from my family. I can’t walk into another family and expect to get those things. Let God tell you the church He wants you to be. When you know the church, stay there and be nurtured to greatness.

So, God told me on that beautiful Sunday morning that He would take me from the back seat to the front seat.