Home > Articles > Music & Praise

Music Around the World

When I was younger, I had the opportunity to travel to many countries and stay with Christadelphians along the way.
By KRISTIN ATWOOD
Read Time: 1 minute

It was an amazing experience to see so many people living the Truth beautifully, but very differently. No matter where you come from, there are certain Christadelphian cultural “norms” in your area. Can we be open to learning about how spiritual music is used around the brotherhood?

Over the next year, there will, Lord willing, be a variety of articles in this section from Christadelphians around the world sharing how music is used to worship God. We in North America tend to be very “comfortable” with how we live the Truth, so these articles might cause a bit of “discomfort” because of the differences. Hopefully, we can enjoy a peek at life in the Truth around the world and gain a greater love and appreciation for our worldwide fellowship.

Can we be open to learning about how spiritual music is used around the brotherhood?

This month we are starting with Africa, which holds a very important place in my heart. I feel very blessed to have spent a month in Africa to help with preaching when I was in my twenties. I would love to say I helped and transformed things while there, but I honestly think Africa changed me more than I could ever change it. There was a saying we used in our group: ”T.I.A.,” which meant “This Is Africa.”

Everything there is different, and I mean everything. At first, it was a bit frightening, but it was also incredibly refreshing.

So as you read the article below, please enjoy learning about how your brothers and sisters rejoice and praise our Heavenly Father.

Kristin Atwood
(Verdugo Hills, CA)

Suggested Readings
Are there still opportunities to praise God through song, even when we are isolated or unable to assemble? What can we do?
Hymn singing in Mozambique is raw and powerful. Although elders who can call songs are respected for their musical abilities, there is no sense of performance.
Poverty has played a big part in generating interest. Two of the poorest countries, Mozambique and Malawi, account for over half our brothers and sisters in Africa. There remains a noticeable inverse relationship between riches and faith.
One out of every four Christadelphians live in Mozambique. 15% of all Christadelphians live in Malawi. When you read those two statements above, what thoughts come to mind? For some people this might be information that they are very familiar with, but for the majority of brethren in North America I think those two statements will be quite startling.
In just over two decades Christadelphians have become a much more diverse and global community. This is one of the greatest and most positive developments in the history of our community.
A blast of hot, odor-laden air assailed me as I stood at the top of the stairs on the Air India jumbo jet at Mumbai’s airport in April 1976. It was the first time I had left the shores of Australia, and the scenes and sounds and smells of my first 24 hours in India were amazing, an incredible contrast to the...
View all events
Upcoming Events