As the Apostles and their wives explored the streets of Colombo after their grueling three day seminar, the District Apostle Woll met with New Apostolic leaders from Sri Lanka for a short seminar. He thanked them for their work and service and reminded them that a good teacher is one who is always willing to learn.
Examining our Prayer Life
The seminar focused on prayer life, where the District Apostle stressed on the importance of being aware of the intercessions we make and the intent with which we converse with God. Through different real life examples and small group activities, they were able to learn and understand the four elements of prayer: praise and worship, thanksgiving, petitions and intercessions. The leaders were asked not only to teach and show but also to involve the members in the activities, as this would lead to a healthier understanding of the doctrine and knowledge of the church.
Greeted by the Children of God
After the seminar, the District Apostle Woll, the leaders, the Apostles and their wives all made their way to the Mattakuliya church where the Wednesday divine service was to be held. The group was warmly welcomed with flowers and songs presented by the Sunday School children.
An Enriching Exhibition
The children were extremely excited to showcase their work to the Apostles and their wives. They had put together an exhibition of all of their work from the past three years. This included lesson plans, Sunday School books as well as art and craft items that were hand made by the children. This was an enriching experience for both the children as well as for all those who attended it.
Divine Moments
After the exhibition, the congregation gathered together in the Mattakuliya church for the divine service. The beautiful voices from the choir along with the flowers at the altar helped create a special atmosphere for the moments to follow.
The District Apostle based the service on the Bible text from John 6: 26 – 27, “Jesus answered them and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on Him.'”
Seeking more than Loaves and Fish
He spoke to the congregation about being aware of the motive with which they come to God’s house. It is easy to come to God because we want some short term benefits but we must remember that we want to come to God’s house because of our desire to be eternally close to God and not for earthly benefits.
Learning from the Master
He also talked to the congregation about being students of Christ. As students we want to not only learn what the teacher says but also emulate their characteristics. This is the attitude that we should have when we come to God’s house to hear His word. It is not just enough to listen to the Word of God but also to try and practice it so that we may become more and more like His image.
The End of a Journey
After the service, the Apostles and their spouses had a final dinner together where they enjoyed the local culture and food. The next day they all departed on their journeys, filled with joyful memories of the time that they spent together and the wonderful hospitality they had received in the beautiful country.