Have you ever had a vision from God? Not just a wish or a dream, but an actual vision that God placed in your heart and mind? Sometimes we are blind to visions; other times we miss the experience of being part of the fulfilment of them.
From September 9-18, 2008, I was blessed to experience a vision being fulfilled as I attended the Seventh World Christian Gathering for Indigenous People held in Israel. From the four corners of the world, indigenous people were welcomed by our Jewish Israeli hosts to gather in the Holy Land.
The opening ceremony took place at the Port of Jaffa, near Tel Aviv. As a traditional canoe from the Pacific West Coast of Canada sought permission to come ashore, they were greeted by our hosts who sang in Hebrew. Responses came from a multitude of people in a variety of languages and traditions. There was joyful singing and dancing as a vast array of colours and regalia filled the port. After the canoe came ashore, we travelled up a narrow street to the Old City of Joppa. On the way up a sign for Simon the Tanner's House caught my eye (see Acts 10). In humble adoration I stood silently as the significance of this moment overwhelmed me. Simon the Tanner … Joppa … it was all coming together for me.
The vision recorded in Acts 10 challenged Peter's understanding of clean and unclean. Just as Peter struggled with his understanding of what he believed was unclean and clean in his cultural context, indigenous people throughout the world have also struggled with understanding their culture. For centuries we, as indigenous people, have been taught that there was something inherently “unclean” about our dances, regalia, traditions and culture. It has only been in recent years that we have found freedom in the Spirit to allow indigenous expressions in our worship.
As I watched indigenous people from all corners of the world climb this narrow street in Joppa, I realized this was a tangible fulfillment of Peter's vision. We freely worshipped in traditional regalia, with traditional music and dance using traditional customs. We echoed the words of Monte Ohia, former leader of the Maori Party of Aotearoa, New Zealand, that:
“There is a new wave reaching the shores of the Christian and non-Christian worlds. The wave is in the form of the sounds, dances and other expressions of the indigenous people which are dedicated to Jesus Christ. From the heart, indigenous people are declaring themselves as followers of Jesus. He is our warrior leader, the one leading us into true liberation and freedom from the pangs of poverty, deprivation and control by others. The Lord is teaching us to stand in the identity that he has created for us.”
I believe that God will continue to give us visions of what he wants to do as his gospel of reconciliation reaches all people. These visions will challenge our thoughts and beliefs as they did for Peter. There may be opposition along the way as we endeavor to do new things, but my prayer is that we will be part of the fulfilment of these visions.
Captain Shari Russell and her husband, Robert, are the corps officers at Weetamah in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Shari also serves as the Territorial Aboriginal Ministries Liaison. Shari and Robert originally met in Winnipeg and were married there, so it is a joy for them to be back. They have three boys: CJ, Gavin and Brannon. As a family, they enjoy travelling, camping, playing sports and music.
From September 9-18, 2008, I was blessed to experience a vision being fulfilled as I attended the Seventh World Christian Gathering for Indigenous People held in Israel. From the four corners of the world, indigenous people were welcomed by our Jewish Israeli hosts to gather in the Holy Land.
The opening ceremony took place at the Port of Jaffa, near Tel Aviv. As a traditional canoe from the Pacific West Coast of Canada sought permission to come ashore, they were greeted by our hosts who sang in Hebrew. Responses came from a multitude of people in a variety of languages and traditions. There was joyful singing and dancing as a vast array of colours and regalia filled the port. After the canoe came ashore, we travelled up a narrow street to the Old City of Joppa. On the way up a sign for Simon the Tanner's House caught my eye (see Acts 10). In humble adoration I stood silently as the significance of this moment overwhelmed me. Simon the Tanner … Joppa … it was all coming together for me.
The vision recorded in Acts 10 challenged Peter's understanding of clean and unclean. Just as Peter struggled with his understanding of what he believed was unclean and clean in his cultural context, indigenous people throughout the world have also struggled with understanding their culture. For centuries we, as indigenous people, have been taught that there was something inherently “unclean” about our dances, regalia, traditions and culture. It has only been in recent years that we have found freedom in the Spirit to allow indigenous expressions in our worship.
As I watched indigenous people from all corners of the world climb this narrow street in Joppa, I realized this was a tangible fulfillment of Peter's vision. We freely worshipped in traditional regalia, with traditional music and dance using traditional customs. We echoed the words of Monte Ohia, former leader of the Maori Party of Aotearoa, New Zealand, that:
“There is a new wave reaching the shores of the Christian and non-Christian worlds. The wave is in the form of the sounds, dances and other expressions of the indigenous people which are dedicated to Jesus Christ. From the heart, indigenous people are declaring themselves as followers of Jesus. He is our warrior leader, the one leading us into true liberation and freedom from the pangs of poverty, deprivation and control by others. The Lord is teaching us to stand in the identity that he has created for us.”
I believe that God will continue to give us visions of what he wants to do as his gospel of reconciliation reaches all people. These visions will challenge our thoughts and beliefs as they did for Peter. There may be opposition along the way as we endeavor to do new things, but my prayer is that we will be part of the fulfilment of these visions.
Captain Shari Russell and her husband, Robert, are the corps officers at Weetamah in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Shari also serves as the Territorial Aboriginal Ministries Liaison. Shari and Robert originally met in Winnipeg and were married there, so it is a joy for them to be back. They have three boys: CJ, Gavin and Brannon. As a family, they enjoy travelling, camping, playing sports and music.
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