BBC

Recently a friend from the States wrote us asking what BBC is like.   

BBC is like any other ch that meets in a hotel conference room. We meet in a small to medium sized room where the  bigger area is in the front of the room so that latecomers end up walking in front of the lectern to go to the back of the room. Our worship service is simple, a blend of traditional and modern hymns, prayer & preaching.  Depending on the musicians, we use a combination of electric piano, guitar, and vocalists. Currently we are in the process of recommending and interviewing men for the offices of elder and deacon, a situation that BBC has not had to date. One of the reasons we fell in love with BBC last spring was the way the folks reminded us so much of GBC in their friendliness and fellowship.  People like to hang around before and after the worship service to fellowship and drink coffee together.

About 50-60 people from 12 different countries attend on any given Sunday. Many of our people traveled over the Spring Festival break of January and February so although we missed our regulars, we seemed to have lots of visitors. If all our regulars and our visitors came on the same day, we would have a packed room indeed. We meet once a week on Sunday morning. Because people live so far away, some come 1 ½- 2 hours, more than one worship service is impractical.  Even attending a mid-week study is difficult for most people. Company employees work long hours; school children have long days and lots of homework. Some English teachers teach afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

Our body consists of university students, English teachers, business people, and embassy workers. Some of these make use of opportunities to connect with their students.  Some of these include families. Most of them stay a year or two. We do have some young couples and singles who have committed to stay a few more years. Now that Mark & Diane moved to Europe, I think Mark & I are the longest-married couple here, with the oldest children.  The average (mean) age of the adults seems to be about 32, with a kids’ average of just under 7.

No matter where we are in the world, Christ unites His body.  We can grow together, learn together, worship together, and watch God work miracles in our lives. I am thankful for God’s goodness to BBC.