The multicultural believers’ fellowship I was pastoring in 2013 held communion every last Saturday of the month.
On 31 August, we had the opportunity to share the celebration with the Dunedin City Baptist Church youth ministry team. The team came to Timaru for a week-long ministry around the town. Pastor Bruce Elder led the seven-member group.
As my Lord’s Supper invitation, I expressed that at the table of the Lord, everyone becomes equal. In this event, all forget who they are and where they come from.
We are all sinners redeemed in Jesus Christ and allowed to dine and fellowship with him.
Regarding cultural diversity, I mentioned Asians eating fish heads, which most European Kiwis don’t do.
Our European Kiwi friend strongly expressed his dislike of fish heads. I told him, “So that means when you eat Whitebait, you take off the heads one by one?”
By the way, Whitebait reminds me of Tabios or Dwarf Pygmy Goby, one of the smallest fish in the world and is endemic to the Philippines’ waters.
To illustrate how cultural equality happens in the Lord’s Supper, I told them that once, a Kiwi friend asked me if I enjoyed the food in New Zealand. I said, of course.
Then, looking intently at him to see his reaction, I said, “Do you know that Filipinos enjoy food more when they eat with their hands? I saw him pause momentarily, wondering how to enjoy food without using the standard knife and fork.
Many of us will not relish eating with our hands, but at the Lord’s Supper, everyone eats with their hands, whatever tribe or nation you come from.
I asked the congregation, “Have you ever participated in a Lord’s Supper where the congregation used forks and knives?”
Pastor Bruce and I ministered jointly on the Lord’s Supper. I took charge of the bread, and he ministered the cup.
That was a blessed and joyous Lord’s Supper celebration with the Dunedin City Baptist Church youth ministry team as we celebrated our Christian unity.
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