Last Sunday, our worship team played about six songs during an afternoon service for another church group. The local Charismatic Orthodox Church was dedicating its new facility.

Yes, you read that right–Charismatic Orthodox. Two words you don’t see together often. The New Jerusalem Charismatic Orthodox Church.

We held the service in an open-sided tent on their property. A generator in the bed of a pickup truck powered our amps and instruments. The strong breeze kept blowing my music around.

I suppose about 100 people were there, probably half black, half caucasian (which says something real good about them). They had bishops all over the place, and plenty of clerical collars. The lead pastor was a big black fellow, probably a former defensive end. Real nice guy.

The denominational head came up from Florida to say a few words. He was a fairly young guy, maybe 50 years old, with a very short ponytail and a purple shirt. He kept an informal bearing, almost playing the part of the cut-up as he bantered with the local minister. I liked him. He told about what they’re doing around the world–not in a lot of places, but in several places–and I was impressed with their spirit and vision.

After the service, I told the minister, “You have a great thing going here.” He said, “As long as we can keep politics out of it.” I gave him a thumbs-up.

The Charismatic Orthodox Church is committed to inviting other groups to use their facility. An organization that provides up to 2500 meals daily to poor children works out of their building. So does a prison ministry and, I think, some other groups. They want to be a blessing to the total body of Christ. They had named their building–big block letters on the outside–“Community House.”

I thoroughly enjoyed getting acquainted with these fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Good people. And they seemed to like our music, too.