Maddie McGinnis- Church Visit #3

Church Name: Iglesia del Pueblo (Wheaton Bible's spanish service)
Church Address: 27w500 North Avenue, West Chicago, IL 60185
Date Attended: Sunday March 30th 
Church Category: different racial or ethnic demographic

Describe the worship service you attended? How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

-Honestly the biggest difference between this service and my regular context is that it was in a different language and that the service lasted almost two hours. Most of the people appeared to be of a Mexican, Hispanic, or other Central or Latin American descent and everything in the service was in spanish. The service started off with a few worship songs followed by announcements, greetings, and the collection of the offering. After that the pastor gave his sermon which lasted about an hour and a half. He talked on 1 Corinthians 13 which seemed typical and similar to anything my pastor would speak on. The length of the service was sadly very noticeable for me because I have been conditioned to believe that the correct length of a church service is one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes long. The other main difference in the sermon was the passion which with the pastor spoke. Most of the sermon could probably be considered "yelling" in some circles. 

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

-I found it interesting that even though it was still in a bible church, the culture lent itself to differences in worship style. There were people who were dancing along with the music and doing hand motions which was refreshing. I think it is easy to get stuck in a mindset of what worship should and should not look like and it was a good reminder that the Lord is glorified through multiple avenues. The congregation also seemed like more of a welcoming family overall than I am used to at bigger churches. People are definitely friendly and welcoming, but here it seemed as if they formed a family where everyone was invited. I have been to spanish speaking churches in Mexico and Honduras, so it was also interesting to see the differences in spanish churches in other countries and those here in the United States.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

- Obviously the language barrier was disorienting. I speak a little spanish and could pick up on key ideas here and there, but it feels vulnerable going into a worship setting without understanding fully everything going on. It was a cool reminder that I don't need to understand what is being said in prayers and in worship, because God understands it and ultimately that is all that matters: that the Lord is glorified. I found it challenging to sit through a two hour service because I am not used to that at all, but I also think that had to do with the fact that I didn't totally know what was going on so it was a battle to not check out and write off the experience. 

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?

-I think my main takeaway for this question would be the reminder of the universality of Scripture. Scripture transcends time and cultural differences and speaks to everyone on earth in history, in the present, and in the future. It was cool hearing a pastor speak on a passage I know so well in my English context because it reminded me that the Bible is not limited in who it pertains to. I guess another aspect that was illuminated for me, though I have already touched on this, is my impatience in long services. It is sad for me when I realize that it is indeed hard for me to sit through a two hour service worshipping the Lord. It was a good reminder about differences between cultures around the world and how the church in America looks a whole lot different from other churches around the world.