World Cup Churches 2. Ecuador

 It's that year again - the World Cup.  Scheduled every 4 years this year it is in Qatar,  Qatar is very hot so it will take place in November instead of the Northern Hemisphere summer as previously.  This gives me nice time to head round the 32 qualifying countries and this time I want to pick out one church in each one.  I am not going to choose only churches that are to my liking.  This is a exploration not a recommendation! To see all in the series select the label World Cup Churches.

Ecuador has an amazing Christian story as well as other amazing stories. 

For this blog, though, let us visit Iglesia evangelica apostolica del nombre Jesus.

This Church is (one of many) on the Galapagos Islands, remotely off the coast in the Pacific Ocean.  To Westerners the Galapagos Islands are famous as the turning point in Darwin's theorising about evolution.

Whether Darwin was right he was never sure, but in any English Primary School you will today discover that he was.  And in any respected UK higher academic institution you will discover that he wasn't.  Not of course that the institution will point you to the Bible instead.

I like the thought - as a Darwinian evolution sceptic - that here in the islands famed for him there are churches vigorously pointing people to Jesus, the Maker of the Universe and Redeemer of the World.

At the time of writing this you can reference one of their worship services on the Facebook link below.  Though you should know that this lasts more than four hours!  The woman leading worship demonstrates more energy in this video than I have done in decades of ministry.  I feel a need - too late - to evolve quickly . . .

https://www.facebook.com/ieanjesusgalapagos/videos/536920604817458/

World Cup Churches 1. Qatar

It's that year again - the World Cup.  Scheduled every 4 years this year it is in Qatar,  Qatar is very hot so it will take place in November instead of the Northern Hemisphere summer as previously.  This gives me nice time to head round the 32 qualifying countries and this time I want to pick out one church in each one.  I am not going to choose only churches that are to my liking.  This is a exploration not a recommendation! To see all in the series select the label World Cup Churches.

So let's start with the hosts, Qatar.  Unlike some of its Arabian neighbours, Qatar has been accommodating to Christian Churches (for expats of course).  There is a Religious Complex in which different churches are sited but the striking one that first grabbed headlines is the Roman Catholic church that services expat workers from Catholic countries.

It gained attention because this is not a small church that Qatar has permitted in an unassuming building as the picture shows.

Nor is it one that is in occasional use:

Qatar has had its critics and many Western commentators have bewailed the (stunningly obvious) fact that Qatar doesn't operate like the EU.  But at least in regards to religious tolerance Qatar offers light that is not often found in its part of the world.

Karl

Not far from where we live is Highgate Cemetery.  It is an amazing place for the conglomeration of famous people's corpses that lie there.  It is unusual in being one of very few cemeteries where you pay to visit as a living person; thankfully the admission fee for those expected to walk out again is a lot lower than if you are brought in to stay.

Though he is not at all the only famous person here, for whatever reason Karl Marx has the centre of attention.  His grave is more like a statue from the town square of a country behind the old Iron Curtain.  But whereas many old communist dignitaries have been unceremoniously removed from their Eastern plinths, Karl has been given more dignity in London.  In fact he was moved within the cemetery, but only in order to give him a better position.

Herein is the irony.  For day after dead day, Karl looks across his little lane at several graves with prominent crosses.  As far as history can tell, Karl's main connections with the cross were too early and too late.  Too early in that when he was baptised into the Lutheran church the sign of the cross meant nothing to his infant mind, and too late in Highgate Cemetery when his soul has returned to God who made it.  

In between?  Some historically significant philosophy that is looking somewhat out of date while the cross continues to change the lives of all kinds of people.