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	October 2002
		As Bishop John has been on holidays this month we have the... Vicar-General's Reflection by Robert Legg
			Two minister/pastor friends of mine are visiting Africa, and are accustomed to things African... Yet recently they emailed the following which I want to share with you: He simply comes - he comes simply 'In the Western church - and in many other countries too - 'professionalism' is seen as being the way both to attract people and the Holy Spirit to our services. To appeal to the unchurched and unsaved we need to present a programme that is slick, fast moving and upbeat - people nowadays are far more sophisticated and critical than they used to be. This week we went to a church here in Kampala, Uganda. It was held in a rented hall and we arrived as it was turning dark. A single kerosene lantern bounced a shimmering circle of light around the room. The seats were hard wooden 'forms' with no backs. As there was no electricity, there was no sound system and 2 or 3 native drums and some small stones in a cardboard box shaken to the beat, provided music: the very antithesis of what we would consider conducive to a visit from either people or the Holy Spirit. Yet from the very start of the meeting General's Reflection the presence of the Lord came down upon the place and by the end people were on their knees and I was on my face - a most unusual experience for me, as I am normally an observer rather than a participator in such situations. The next night was the same. And this time a Moslem lady came to the Lord. This was a real cause for celebration, as it does not happen very often. It was not David or Kathy who were responsible for these amazing happenings, but the Lord; plus a people whose hearts were open and responsive. For there was a greater freedom in the people in that church than any other we have experienced here. So God moved! Professionalism had no part in it. It was simply a real heart for the Lord. And the results were so effective. Of course it wouldn't work in the West! We are far too sophisticated! On the other hand, maybe we are organising the Holy Spirit out of our services. For each day He comes in a different way. There simply is no box big enough to put Him in! Worth thinking about, isn't it?' The only guarantee we have David and Kathy Tait from New Zealand share their thoughts through an email service called 'Praise God it's Monday!' pgim@wwj.org.nz and they challenge me to look again at the worship I lead and offer God each week. The presence of God in our services is assured. That is His promise. What challenges me is the level of my expectation of His presence. The best music, the best choir, the best sermon, the best presentation can never guarantee the presence of God. The only guarantee we have is that Reflection He will be there. We need to respond expectantly to Him. Upside down This same week I had an email from another friend who has gone to Tanzania for a short mission term to help arrange computer use with people in a refugee camp. He writes about no electricity at night, no running water, in fact his whole day is upside down and yet the Lord is there with him. In small ways and in the hearts and minds of lovely simple people the Lord assures them of His presence. I have found in recent times how much encouragement has been given me by friends who have simply found the presence of the Lord in very simple places. I know I must learn (relearn) the practice of the presence of God, expectantly! Indeed, 'He simply comes - He comes simply'. Resolutely Robert Legg Vicar General