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Sunday, April 6th I visited the Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church. The service took place between 11: 30 in the morning and 1: 30 after noon. This church promotes the “spirit of worship reaching for Excellency in Christ, through bible based preaching and teaching” as is said in the program. The church is open generally to the African American community and gladly welcomes all other races equally. They base their belief that Jesus is Lord, he is the son of God, and that he was born from the Virgin Mary.
When I arrived, the members of the covenant were very kind and friendly towards me. When I entered I was allowed with the simple clothes I was wearing. There was no particular dress I had to have. I sat in the plush chairs at the back of the establishment and one after another people welcomed me. There were men in suits and women in white dresses. They were leaders of the church and choir members. At the front, there was a very simple altar, but there were no crucifixes. Many more came into the building. Some had children which they took to a “youth church” in another room. Quickly, everyone took their seats and the ceremony began.
Pastor Gregory Chambliss took a microphone and began the ceremony with prayer. “Thank you Jesus, for allowing us into your house of worship.” He spoke with emotion. He wore a white robe over his suit. Soon after the choir took the floor and began with song. Other members were singing. After lecture and a few psalms from the bible the building was in song once again. This time I took part in a song about the Lord Almighty. It was very harmonious through the song.
When the pastor was through with another sermon, he addressed a sister to read the current events. We prayed for the sick and for those who were healthy too. Also, we sang the birthday song to those who are celebrating this month. After that, she said for all the new members to stand. I stood and she asked my name. Introducing my self, I thanked everyone for allowing me into their church. I heard many women say “Amen!” and she continued with other entering members.
The pastor continued on with many other sermons and passages from the bible. Soon he told, those who to, to stand and take communion. The way they took communion was very orderly. The people on the right faced right and the left faced left to form a line to obtain a wafer and wine. Also, unlike in Catholicism, they didn’t drink from the same cup or take the wafer from the priest. Each of them received a small cup and their own wafer. This was done so that the whole congregation could take communion together. I did not take communion because I didn’t know if I was allowed. People who were handicapped or older were delivered their communion. Everyone received sacrament in peace.
Towards the end of the ceremony, the priest started talking about Him being in a woman’s kitchen, behind her refrigerator, everywhere. When I first heard this, I was baffled. “Why is he talking about a kitchen?” I asked myself. Soon after, I figured out that he was talking about God being omniscient. All through, he was speaking with great emotion. I was a little scared through this because I had never heard someone speak with such emotion. I thought, “This man is truly dedicated to his religion!” His sermon was the greatest sermon I ever did hear.
Finally, the service concluded. Pastor Chambliss asked the congregation to hug their neighbor or anyone. The woman, who was sitting next to me, rose to warmly embraced me. I gratefully accepted her hug. Soon, other women came to hug me too! I felt like a celebrity. The teenagers from the congregation weren’t rude and did the same. I even shook a man’s hand. I saw the children from the “youth church” unite with their mothers and everything went along really peacefully. It was a memorable moment.
When I arrived at the church, I was a bit frightened to be of a different race than the congregation. I soon discovered that there was nothing to be afraid of because these people would treat anyone they came in contact with like a relative. This church opened up my mind about the misconception people have about other religions. They aren’t very different from us. I plan to keep in mind what I heard on that day’s service and will hopefully return to this church and expand my knowledge of Jesus and the Bible.
