‘Timid’ children deliver powerful church service |03 December 2011
The special occasion took place at the Police Academy hall where several hundred members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) watched the children aged between 3 and 15 years share the word of God from the Bible, sing in a choir, coordinate various activities including leading the praise and worship session, take and pray for offerings in addition to hosting a play to teaching how to pray.
The RCCG has many branches on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue and the children who took part in Sunday’s special event came from the church’s Grace Assembly, which is based at Pointe Larue.
“There are so many activities out there that children can, and are taking part in, and some of the activities are obviously not healthy. If we do not encourage those in the church to do something for our Father in Heaven they could be lured into the wrong things by the enemy,” said Pastor Marieline Camille who heads the RCCG.
She said the children had in the past asked for a chance to take part as they did, adding 
Among those who played key roles were Andrew Betsy, who preached, master of ceremony Terah Betsy, worship leader Faith Thande and Tricia Marguerite, who translated what the speakers said in Creole into English as well as Tahira Philoe who announced forthcoming events, took the offering and prayed over it.
The only adult involved in the service was Deacon Jones Camille who offered music from an electronic keyboard, whose stand at one time collapsed, offering what many said was “the children’s real test which they passed with flying colours”.
The singing continued seamlessly with the youthful congregation substituting for the lost background music with cheerful and rhythmic clapping amid shouts of “hallelujah”.
Pastor Camille said Jesus showed keen interest in the things of God, and referred to the time his parents looked for him everywhere before discovering he was in the temple learning about God.
“These children truly have potential. They are the Joshua generation and we must encourage rather than lose them to the world,” said parent Jefferson Nganga, whose wife, Fiona, had guided the children how to conduct the service, running them through only two practice sessions.