A place to worship
What do you do, if you believe in Christ, but don’t really have a religion as such? You are Christian, yet you don’t have a place to worship? There are several groups and religions with chapters in Cyprus set up in unconventional surroundings
Life in the Spirit Fellowship
It was an uneventful Sunday morning but central Nicosia was buzzing with hundreds of Filipinos and Sri Lankans enjoying their day off in their own way. Tucked away in a small room in old Nicosia, one group of Philippine women were doing something other than taking walks and meeting up with friends. The singing and clapping of Life in the Spirit Fellowship Cyprus could be heard from down the street.
“We believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant authoritative Word of God,” explained Claire Emegoakor, one of the worshippers. “We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons, the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit.”
Life in the Spirit is a worldwide organisation dedicated to the Word of God with places of worship set up in countries such as London, Greece and America. Although it was founded by Ralph I. Tilley, a Christian pastor, the beliefs are the same as those followed in the Philippines. “This is what we believe back home and this is how we praise Jesus Christ,” explained Claire. “It’s not done in churches like other religions. We have these places where we have our group meetings and they are called our churches.”
The Cyprus chapter was founded in December 2005 – Pastor Tilley himself inaugurated it – and since the chanting began, the sisters of the organisation have gained more recognition with growing numbers of worshippers every week. On a wall opposite the door, in big, bright letters were the full name of the organisation and a projection of a song a dozen women were passionately singing along to while banging on tambourines and clapping. It was nothing like the Gospel singing you see in the movies but impressive nonetheless. Arms in the air, eyes shut, the women sang: “This song within me Lord will bless your Holy name.” Once they were finished, they all sat down and one ‘sister’ took to the small podium to recite a chapter from the Bible. “We read segments of the Bible and then explain them,” said Claire, who has been preaching the Word of God since the age of 13. “We do not belong to this world, we belong to God, we are his children,” said another sister. “We are God’s property and even our breath is the breath of God,” said a second. Once the preaching came to an end, a small tray with shot glasses of cranberry juice (as a substitute for wine) and pieces of biscuits (instead of bread) were passed around. After a quiet murmur of thanks to the Lord and Jesus and blessing of friends, relatives, employers and their work, we drank the juice, ate the biscuits and left.
Life in the Spirit: 43, Granikou Street, Nicosia (behind the Cyprus Mail) 99 931839
Newfrontiers Grace Church
Here is a church with no pews, no candles and no icons. Services are held in what was once a clothing factory in Larnaca. An elder stands at the front of a congregation of 32, seated on orange plastic chairs.
The Sunday morning service begins with a live band, including a drummer, keyboard player, guitarist and singer, performing while an overhead projector beams words up onto a screen. The feel is of upbeat praise and thanks to God.
Grace Church, Cyprus, part of the Newfrontiers international family of churches (which has around 500 churches around the world committed to building churches according to New Testament principles), was started in 1990 by church ‘planter’ Pete Kourpas, a Greek Cypriot and his English wife, Alex. The couple moved back to the UK in 2003 and elder Colin Hill took charge.
The music session over – the children go upstairs to do arts and crafts or play – and Colin begins his sermon. The congregation includes his wife Jane, and another elder Rob Holmes with wife, Heather. Attendees are dressed freely in clothing from jeans to smart and the atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming, thoughtful and accepting.
The white voiles across the shop window, bright fluorescent strip-lighting, aged floor and office-style suspended ceiling are not what you would expect from a typical church.
The attentive congregation occasionally give a quiet hum or word, sounding agreement with their preacher, who is sending out a sermon encouraging us to be wise in our speech. He quotes John, Ch 1 Verse 14. Everything that comes out of your mouth be: “…full of grace and truth.” His speech is constantly injected with quotes from the Bible and he talks about purity in life and harmony in relationships at home or work.
After the service, while tea and biscuits were served, Colin explained what is different about his church: “We try and work everything out relationally. We value relationships, friendships very highly. That is one of the core things. Another core value is the ‘grace of God’. Essentially, we don’t believe we deserve God’s favour at all, or what Jesus has done for us. We don’t always get it right. It’s very humble. I can’t talk to you, or anybody else, from a position of arrogance. It’s very much a feeling of equality, and cross cultural – Christ reaching every nation.”
Communion is normally held every other week. Colin said: “We use grape juice, not wine, as some people don’t like it. We are just giving thanks to God because Jesus died for us”.
Colin added: “We are very open. We all want to be accepted and loved, not just by God, but by one another as well. It’s not a routine or duty – it’s a delight – I want to be with other people and worship God together.”
It was a sentiment echoed by members of the congregation. “I enjoy the worship. The people are welcoming and friendly, I come to hear God’s word, and we can learn a lot,” added Rachel Robinson. On why this church is different to others she said: “It is interdenominational and welcoming to anyone. Church is about the people, they love God and want to worship him that that’s why they are here”.
www.newfrontiers.xtn.org, www.gracechurch-cyprus.org
The Lydia Group
The power of prayer and faith in God have kept Sarah from falling apart and through difficult times in her life.
“I have never not trusted, or blamed God. This very morning we have prayed for miracles,” says Sarah, who takes part in small, weekly prayer groups of four or five women held at her flat.
The Larnaca group, part of Lydia, an interdenominational, worldwide prayer fellowship for women, prays for their families, friends, local needs and world issues. “It’s written in the Bible we should pray for people in authority, so we pray for wisdom in all areas of the government and churches, for God to give them wisdom, understanding and guidance in all decisions they have to make – because it’s such a responsibility these people have.
“Prayer is like talking to God,” said Sarah. “Most of us who come here are intercessors – someone who speaks to God about other people. Imagine you have a problem. I am the person standing on the bridge, in the gap, who will ask for you. I’m an intercessor, God has called me.
“If you came to my door I would say come in, in the name of Jesus. I used to have one woman, who is with the Lord now, and she would say ‘I’ve just come for a hug’.
“I was 35 and diagnosed with spondylitis – arthritis of the spine – a crippling illness. At a healing service someone said: ‘Someone here has spondylitis’. I knew it was me and went forward for prayer. I was healed. I’m nearly 80 and feel I am a testament of answer to prayer. I’ve seen so much healing in my own body and answer to prayer in others.
“The only people that come into the group are sent by God. We ask God to send who He wants because they must be trustworthy, as sometimes very personal things are discussed. Nothi
ng will go out – it’s just between us and God,” she added.
Kate, a prayer group member explained: “It’s nothing strange. We pray in the name of Jesus for whatever we feel in our hearts. Prayer is a natural thing.
“When you pray you see things happening. It says in the Bible it’s good to look back and see all God’s miracles. But we don’t sit here with a shopping list!”
Sarah continued: “We keep a prayer journal. It’s wonderful. We look back and ask what we have to thank God for this week because God blesses us so much. We look at this beautiful island at this time of year with the wild flowers, the green, and the blossom. I was taken to see the almond blossom and it’s absolutely beautiful and I say, thank you Lord.
“We really love each other, and are very close – almost more than a natural family. Wherever there is love and unity it commands a blessing.
“I went to Sunday school when I was three. I had a very happy, secure life although I was born in 1927 during the depression. I saw my grandma reading her Bible every day. I went to Lourdes as a hand maiden, where I had sick people in my care. It made me realise how fortunate and favoured I was to have my good health. It had a great spiritual effect on me. I was a changed person.”
I asked Sarah whether she thought God had a plan for her to be in Cyprus. “Absolutely, he told me to make my base here – the centre of the Med. I feel my life has been preparation for this.
“I remember going to mass and crying when I thought of what Jesus had gone through so we might have eternal life.
“Sunday is for Him. I go to church hoping I’ll be a blessing to whoever I meet.
“I don’t know how people manage these days if they don’t have faith in God and prayer.”
Names have been changed
Open Door Baptist Church
Established and chartered in 1993, the Open Door Baptist Church (ODBC) – in Cyprus at least – was founded (and is currently run) by the Tinsley family, though Pastor Tinsley says “any true church starts with God, the true Founder”. Situated in a first-floor apartment in Limassol, it is a moderately formal affair, with the Pastor wearing a shirt and tie and most of the congregation dressed in their ‘Sunday Best’, but the atmosphere is very friendly and welcoming.
There is a cross with flowers in the centre of the room, behind which is a lectern and a microphone, while approximately 60 to 80 plastic chairs are set up. Two different hymn books are placed on most chairs: one with music, the other without. The hymns are all relatively modern, dating from the 90s onwards.
A family member, Mark, assists the Pastor and has been allowed by him to take charge of the Sunday afternoon service – something he regards as a privilege rather than an additional responsibility. Unlike the Pastor, he has a day job as well, so isn’t always available to take the service, though he’d like to.
Usually, the service lasts a little over an hour and includes a considerable amount of singing (some of which is in four-part harmony or in rounds), which is a little intimidating to the first-time visitor. There is also a communion service (breaking of the bread) as well as a “message” to convey: a modern day story backed up by a biblical reference/story. Afterwards, everyone gets together for “fellowship” (a friendly chit-chat) and on Sunday mornings, tea and coffee as well.
Supported completely by titles and offerings given by its members, the ODBC is a busy, multi-racial church quite strong in its beliefs which are outlined in detail on their very comprehensive website, but most markedly include the second coming of Christ, dispelling the theory of evolution and the existence of Satan in addition to that of God.
When asked if the church was permanently set up where it was (there is a sign fixed downstairs), Pastor Tinsley said “Nothing is permanent on earth. If we outgrow this building then we will simply move to a bigger building, that is if God allows it. Signs can be removed very easily.”
Meets Sundays 9.45am (Bible study), 11.00am, 1.30pm and Wednesdays 7.30pm (prayer meeting). 301 Stephanie Court, St. Andrew’s Street, Limassol. Tel: 25 751193 or 25 748719. www.cbm-odbc.org
International Christian Fellowship East
The International Christian Fellowship was set up some 20 years ago by a group of Christians who didn’t really “fit in” to the only available religious groups in Cyprus at the time. Due to considerable expansion, it branched out into ICF Plato (held at Plato College) and ICF East held at a nursery school in Limassol, its members divided primarily by geography more than anything else.
ICF East consists of two or three elders responsible for the overall theology of the church and bible teachings, strongly supported by 10 leaders, named Deacons or Deaconesses (servants). The leaders take it in turns to run the service, in effect in the place of a priest, minister or pastor. All these posts are elected by church members.
It’s an extremely casual – though very friendly – service, with people wandering in at all times and dressed in jeans, though a few of the older members are more formally attired.
The service, which takes around 1½ hours, is quite traditional in that there are hymns broken up by Praises (testimonials), bible readings and a general message for the day, which can be a little obscure as laymen struggle to find the right words to explain their interpretation of certain stories or lessons from the bible. But the effort is there. I didn’t see a cross, though one may have been on display somewhere.
A bulletin with the content of the service as well as general information regarding members in need or away on missions, is also circulated.
There are many families in attendance – there is a cr?che facility – as well as younger people, many of whom actively participate in the service. Though strange to have a service in a nursery school, it has its advantages. There are many rooms, making it ideal when, during the second session, the teenagers are taken aside, as are the small children, for whom there are even beds if they need a nap!
Although there is bread and wine (grape juice for non-drinkers or underage members), it is not “blessed and transformed into the Body of Christ” as with more formal religions, rather it is a representation of what Christ stood for.
Remarkably, the 45 to 50 members who support the church comprise around 18 different nationalities and on this particular Sunday, there were translations in Russian and Iranian occurring simultaneously as the service in English continued.
The members take an impressively active interest in participation in international missions, both financially (25 per cent of all monies collected are put aside for various causes) and emotionally. After the service is over, tea, coffee and biscuits are available, along with a friendly chat.
Meets Sundays 10.30am, Angel’s English Nursery School, 37 Ampelakion Street, Yermasogeia, Limassol. Tel: 99 815033, www.icf.org.cy
Paphos Christian Fellowship International
Things have changed since the days of the BBC’s longest-running religious programme Songs of Praise hit the screens in the late 60s.
Anyone familiar with the programme and the type of worship shown may initially be a bit thrown, although possibly refreshed, by the Christian Fellowship worshipers.
People go along casually dressed; there’s no stiff dress code, even the pastor is clad casually in a cotton, short-sleeved shirt and the congregation seems a relaxed bunch of worshipers in print frocks and beige ensembles.
It’s a multi-ethnic, multi-generational, non-denominational group that now has a worldwide following, with groups in the UK, USA, Australia and Europe getting together in hotels, Christian centres, rented rooms and people’s homes to celebrate their belief in the teachings of the Bible.
It’s a following that is big on sin, which t
hey believe is the one thing that separates us from God and causes all of life’s problems.
Paphos Christian Fellowship International
Sunday Service at the Kissos Hotel Paphos 10:30am
