I’m at a gun club near the city of Cochin, southwest India. Because the country is so overwhelmingly Hindu (with a strong Muslim minority), the small Christian population has trouble finding meeting places. Most Indian Christians are from the lower castes. Most often they are untouchable Dalits who are beneath the caste system altogether. Because of this reality, purchasing property for a church is a challenge. It’s a challenge because they do not have the funds for it and because Dalits are not allowed to own property anywhere near other caste members.

So this particular church meets in a gun club. There are maybe 75 people gathered to worship. What they lack in numbers, they make up for in volume. They sing very loudly. By “sing,” I mean “scream in a high pitched voice for a long time.” And they have a microphone.

This scene will be repeated several times during my travels in India. I visit many church gatherings, and the decibels and pitch are always higher than I prefer. I wonder about this: Is this typical for all religious services in India or are Christians more enthusiastic than other groups? I am told that the volume is so loud because they want the whole village to know they are “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16).

I am usually expected to share some words from the Bible when attending these services.

I’m always a bit concerned about that, since Worldlink’s whole premise is built on the effectiveness of local believers to communicate the gospel to their own context. But I do it, and the people feel honored that someone thought enough of them to leave his North American opulence and visit their church.

Every time a service concludes I am asked to help pray for individuals after the service. I can’t understand them and they cannot understand me, but God knows what is on everyone’s heart. It is considered an honor to have a minister pray for you, so I humbly pray in Indian fashion, with both hands on the head of the supplicant. Sometimes this goes on for an hour.

During one such prayer session an old woman approaches me. I cannot guess her age, but the lines on her face and weight in her steps make her look ancient. She slips a 10 rupee note into my hand. I am reminded of the widow Jesus pointed out in the temple who gave everything she had to God (Mark 12:42). Ten rupees is about 22 cents but I am sure this woman is making a sacrifice. I will carry that gift with me for a long time, as a challenge to my own commitment.