On Sunday we welcomed the youth fellowship from Market Drayton Methodist Church for an entertaining and enjoyable service with a memorable theme: “listen to God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go, He’s the one who will keep you on track”. Proverbs 3:6. They illustrated this theme with the story of Jonah and the whale.
Jonah was called by God to travel to Ninevah and preach against their wickedness. But he was so frighted at the prospect, he ran away to sea. What followed in the Bible was amazing – as was the drama enactment! For as Jonah’s ship was engulfed by a raging storm he fell overboard and at this point a human sized fish waddled out from the vestry, opened its mouth and “swallowed” Jonah! We’ll never forget that!
The voice of God boomed out, the startled whale coughed up Jonah, thus saving him and consequently Jonah travelled to Ninevah and showed folk the right way to live.
Elijah preached a thoughtful sermon, explaining that God saved Jonah after three days spent in the belly of a whale. Parallels were made between the three days the young Christ was lost by his parents and found in the temple and also the three days between Christ’s death and resurrection.
A rich combination of prayer, drama, teaching and lively singing, accompanied by the band, all made for an inspirational and unforgettable service.