I have never been a 'good christian'. I only went to church because my parents made me go, and because they gave us free candy after the service. If I had the choice, I would rather be playing in the playground or running through the fields with 'non-religious' childrens who seemed to have so much better things to do on Sunday morning.

But when you are trained with sticks and fear of burning in hell, you tend to drag yourself out of the bed and get dressed in your best clothes and make it to the church on Sunday morning... Week in and week out... And when you do that for about 15 years, you kind of get used to the idea that there is no better thing to do on Sunday morning besides going to church.

But that Sunday, I had finally understood why people go to church on Sundays...

I'm talking about the Sunday I went to church in Nigeria...

It was built on earthen ground, with wooden pillars and metal roof. The pastor's stand was made of cheap plastic, with plastic flower decorating the sides... The church didn't even have a cross...

The chairs were cheap 'Made in China' plastic chairs, and during the service, the lights went out three times. The microphone was either too loud, or too soft, and fan was making more noise than it was cooling the hot air.

But the people were dressed in their best Sunday clothes... Men... Women... Children... All came in groups, greeted everyone in the church with hugs and handshakes, and even greeted a total stranger such as myself. A man lent me his leather covered bible, and a lady brought me the song books.

At first, I felt more like a 'tourist', than a genuine Christian. But when the service began, I began to feel the 'religious' vibe in the air.

And when the prayer started, I suddenly realized why Christianity is needed for our mankinds... It relieves pain and suffering... It promises better tomorrow, and it takes away your sorrow and uplifts your spirits.

I have never seen people who had so much suffering and sorrow written on their faces, as the people praying that day. The pastor asked God to take away our sorrows and take away our pains, and people dumped their pains and sorrows they had accumulated over the week.  

Some were crying... Some were sobbing... some were smiling... some were dancing... For them, church is the only place where you can ask for better things... For them, God is the only person who cares about them and shares their suffering...

They had come with heavy and clouded spirits, but at the end of the service, they left with smiles on their faces.

I once heard that Christianity was religion for the poor and the persecuted. That day, I finally understood what that meant.