Heavenly Conga Line

We recently concluded our annual weeklong meeting of the board of directors of the Discipleship Ministries in Nashville. At this meeting, our administration and employed staff join with the elected and appointed directors from all over the United States and the world to determine the work and ministry of Discipleship Ministries for the coming year and into the future. We evaluate the past and current work and engage in learning and inspiration as we hear noted speakers on a variety of topics. And we worship and fellowship.

Midway through the week on Friday morning, we gathered for our opening business session at 8:00 a.m. We were to hear the important report of the nominations and personnel committee to begin the morning's business. The committee had begun its meeting at 7:00 a.m. in the room one floor beneath our regular meeting room. As our people gathered for the 8:00 meeting time, the committee had not completed its work and so continued to meet. By 8:20, the assembled staff and directors, which included a large number of young people who were members of our Division on Ministry with Young People (DMYP) -- about one third of the total -- were becoming restless waiting for the others to arrive.

I moved to the piano and began to play. As we sang, the young people began to call out hymns and songs. We sang many songs that most congregations might number among their favorites; and as we sang, the young people became more animated and participatory. They stood, clapped, swayed, moved. I was pleased to learn that these young people from all over the world know by heart and enjoy singing so many of the same songs as many older people, including "Victory in Jesus" and "I'll Fly Away." We sang praise choruses and spirituals. And when we began to sing "Siyahamba," the young people jumped to their feet and began dancing. By the end of the first time through, they had begun a conga line that meandered all around the large room, picking up pastors, laypeople, district superintendents, and bishops as it moved. Some clapped, beat out rhythms on their table tops, or shook small boxes of Tic Tacs in time to the music. After five or six times through and after singing "Siyahamba" in all three languages in The Faith We Sing, I began to bring the music to a close; but the people would have no part of it. The dancing, singing, and clapping went on for some time.

When they were finally ready to let it wind down, they began to break off from the conga line and return to their seats; but it was not over until they clapped, cheered, hugged, laughed, and greeted one another in renewed spirit and Spirit. Everyone knew that we had experienced what we had earlier sung, "Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived when we shall leave this place."

As we allowed our tempo and volume to subside a bit from the "Siyahamba" conga line, the nominations and personnel committee finally joined us, having completed its meeting. We had been singing and dancing for forty-five minutes without hymnals, songbooks, or projected lyrics. The bishop who chaired both the nominations committee and our full board opened the morning meeting, about an hour behind schedule, with the words, "We thank you for your patience. As we met downstairs, we heard the sound of your voices and felt the rhythm of your feet on the ceiling above us and we knew you were having a revival. We longed to be with you."

I have been in other meetings and assemblies where God's Spirit seemed to seize those present, with the result being immensely enthusiastic singing and dancing. It is not something that I would feel comfortable trying to bring about beyond perhaps praying for it to happen. But this revival happened spontaneously, and it was almost completely the result of the leadership of the young people present. The rest of us, including me at the keyboard, were along for the glorious ride.

I think this must be similar to what heaven will be like. There won't be any need for preaching or evangelism, but there will be lots of singing and dancing. This may be a glimpse of what we mean when we pray, "Thy kingdom come … on earth as it is in heaven." United Methodists need more conga lines.