Henry's Red Sea by Barbara Smucker

Author:Barbara Smucker [Smucker Barbara Claassen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8361-1372-3
Publisher: MennoMedia
Published: 2006-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

“Now we will have the sermon,” Henry whispered to Rudy, as he tried to remember how Mother had described church. She had told him to listen carefully and if he didn’t understand, she would explain after the service.

Henry watched the tall, young leader of their refugee Center stand.

“I will speak to you today,” Peter Dyck said, “of God’s great love for every one of us.”

Henry listened and he could understand! Peter Dyck told them that God loved each of them so much He had given His Son, Jesus Christ, to the world, and that those who believed in Him would live forever. They would live after death in heaven with God!

He told them, too, that God loved the people of the earth enough to give His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for them.

“Christ died for everyone,” Mr. Dyck said clearly, “for refugees and for the Russian Communists, tool”

As Peter Dyck continued talking, his voice grew stronger with power and conviction.

Henry wondered if the warmth he felt inside came from the love of God. Everyone in the room seemed drawn together. They were like a family united by a loving Father.

“And who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Peter Dyck had opened the Bible and was reading from it. Then he lifted his head. “Nothing can separate us from Christ Jesus,” he told the refugees, “not death, or sorrow, or hunger, or war, or the communists of Russia, or the cruel deeds they have done to all of you.”

Could this really be true, Henry wondered. If it were, then he would no longer need to be afraid. Christ would always be with him!

“Let us pray,” said Peter Dyck.

Everyone moved from their chairs and knelt on the floor with their heads bowed. Henry, Rudy, and Tina followed Mother and Grandma.

“Help us to forgive the communists of Russia,” Mr. Dyck prayed, “to love them as Christ commanded us to love our enemies. And help us to believe that God can do everything, even when the world about us is dark, and hopeless, and evil.”

Henry caught his breath when he heard these words. They were the reason why Grandma prayed for the soldier who shot Grandfather. She was trying to love and forgive an enemy.

Now Henry was beginning to understand, too, what Father meant when he often said, “It takes more courage to love than to hate.”

After the prayer, there was singing. Menno Klassen stood before them. He read each line of the song and then all the refugees joined him in singing it. Henry looked about the room. Katie was singing. So were the other boys and girls. He had never thought that children could do anything in church. He looked at Menno. Soon Henry was singing with the others—a joyful smile upon his face.

The service closed with Henry’s favorite hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God.”

The long lines of people walked silently from the church. But the music of the wonderful hymn kept repeating itself in Henry’s mind.

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