NationsWorship To Come To Ephrata

During 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions were isolating people from each other, Global Disciples, an organization based in Lancaster, decided to find a way to bring them together. "In the midst of the pandemic, we said, 'Is there a way for us to gather online and worship God? To gather all across the globe and express our unity in Christ?'" said global worship specialist Tim Bentch.

Bentch said the virtual event, NationsWorship, is significant because it crosses cultural, political, and international boundaries. "It's a chance for believers to stand together as one, and we won't allow different perspectives and other COVID divisions to come between us," he said.

For 25 years, Global Disciples has worked with clusters of churches in Africa, Asia, and the Americas to train members of churches in those areas to be missionaries in their homelands. "Our goal is to help people come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior by working through local churches that are closer to those unreached areas," explained Bentch.

The 2020 event involved videos, Zoom, and livestream technology to bring people together. For 2021, NationsWorship will also include a live component, which will be held at DOVE Westgate Church, 1755 W. Main St., Ephrata, on Friday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m. The event will be livestreamed and also broadcast again at 10:30 p.m. The video will be available on demand through Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022.

According to Bentch, the event will include videos from a number of cultures around the world. "It's a chance for the church here in America to worship (along) with unique expression of worship from Africa and Asia," said Bentch. "The worship may come from a village of brand-new believers, and it may be very simple - just clapping and singing," he said. "Those are parts that really move my heart." Bentch also described a modern worship song, "Glory to the Righteous One," which is being written for the event by James and Daniella, a couple in Rwanda who are musicians and worship leaders. "On that song, I am working with people in India, Mexico, Nepal, and Ethiopia and videotaping them singing along on the chorus," said Bentch.

Bentch said that the 2021 NationsWorship is based on Isaiah 24:16, which reads in part, "From the farthest part of the earth comes the sound of songs." "(There will be) all these voices coming together and worshiping God as one," said Bentch, who noted that the DOVE worship team will lead several songs and that a diverse worship choir is being created for the event, which Bentch noted has become important for the international partners. "They told us last year, 'This is the first time we really felt connected,'" explained Bentch, "and we are honored to worship together with our brothers and sisters from diverse places of the world."

DOVE Westgate in Ephrata can accommodate 900 worshipers. Those wishing to attend NationsWorship live are asked to visit http://globaldisciples.org/nationsworship to register prior to the event.