Worshiping in Paradise

Mt. Mansfield, Underhill, VT

They will neither harm nor destroy

on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord

    as the waters cover the sea. 

(from Isaiah 11:1-10)

At 1:30pm on October 26, 2018, an ordinary church service began in The Hague, Netherlands. 

The worship service lasted until January 30, 2019. One continuous worship service for 96 days.

Dutch law states that no legal action can interfere with or disrupt a religious service. 

Sheltered within the walls of Bethel Church was an Armenian family — the Tamrazyans — who, after living in the Netherlands for 9 years under asylum claims, after winning their case in court twice, recently had their case overturned and were set to be deported, despite credible death threats in their home country. 

So our siblings in Christ at Bethel Church in The Hague did what Christians are uniquely equipped to do — they started worshipping and they just…didn’t stop.

At first, it was hard to line up liturgists, musicians, preachers from within the congregation. By halfway through the pastor reports, “‘Even from abroad we’ve gotten help — there have been sermons held in English, French and German…It’s quite moving to us. I often see a pastor handing over the service to another pastor of another denomination who they would ordinarily not have anything to do with, liturgically.’”

The worship service only concluded when the leaders of the church received word that that the Tamrazyan family’s petition was granted and they would be allowed to safely remain in the country. 

Fearful reaction or retaliation, escalation didn’t keep the Tamrazyan family safe. 

Worship—and, more to the point, the One they worship—kept them safe. In the meantime, they learned the language and practices of hope through worship. And hope always brings reinforcements.

(from Center for Excellence in Preaching)