A Bach cantata? What does this have to do with "mission" In the middle of Ethiopia? I have just begun rehearsing with the Motley Singers Christ lag in Todesbanden, an Easter cantata with 16th century words by Martin Luther and 18th century music by Johann Bach.

Unreached people groups come in a variety of guises. The unreached I am working with just happen to love music and like to sing. They are people for whom classical music can have words which are Christian and still be OK. Am I able to share my faith overtly with them? Not usually. Motley Singers is a community choir and not a ministry of a church or other group. But it is a place to meet and get to know non-believers—people who would never come to a church for worship.

The choir is an opportunity to pair believers and non-believers with similar interests. Last Christmas two Austrians got to know each other&mdahs;one is here with another Christian organization and one grew up in church, but does not really know our Lord. Now they are studying the Bible together just exploring what it says. I was able to introduce one of the tenors, an ambassador to Ethiopia, to a Christian friend who is representing his West African country as ambassador. Two men with worldly power, one who knows Jesus and one who doesn't, are becoming good friends.

So, what will result from:

• talking week after week with people who would not be around Christians otherwise?
• helping singers arrange for tea or lunch together
• telling someone you'll pray for her back pain (and praising God when she returns the next week and says "it's better7mdash;keep praying to your God")?
• singing words which tell clearly of God's redeeming love for us?
• explaining those words in the context of "what are we singing about?"

Pray

Pray for this particular "unreached people group" and for me and others in it who are using ancient texts and beautiful music to plant seeds. Pray for me as I select music and communicate both the music and the texts to the singers. Pray for the instrumentalists who join us for some of the music—many of them are also non-believers.

Christ lag in Todesbanden Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands

Fur unsre Sund' gegeben, For our offenses given;

Der ist wieder erstanden But now at God's right hand He stands

Und hat uns bracht das Leben. And brings us life from heaven.

Des wir sollen Froehlich sein Wherefore let us joyful be,

Gott loben and dankbar sein And sing to God right thankfully

Und singen: Halleluja! Halleluja! Loud songs of Alleluia! Alleluia!