Lord's Supper and World Missions

We had an excellent World Missions service / conference this weekend in Tampa. The guest speaker was David Pleasant, Jr. from Ft. Myers (Covenant Community Ministries). Using 1 Corinthians 11, he used the topic of those excluded from communion due to social / ethnic status.

During the middle of the sermon, he introduced communion to the congregation. The ushers handed out the elements as usual. But what I could not see from sitting on the third row, was that the communion elements was given only to those sitting on the first five rows. It was a surprise to the congregation, only the ushers and church staff knew what was going on.

David then proceeded with the communion ceremony in the typical fashion. After the ceremony, he explained how that many church members were excluded from the Lord's supper due to their social / economic status.

Pleasant then related the concept of exclusion to those who have never heard of Jesus Christ. How can they participate in the Body of Christ if they have never heard of Him?

At the close of the sermon, he then had the usher to reissue the elements for communion to everyone in attendance.... much to the relief of many parishioners.

In retrospect, it was funny to see the restlessness of the choir during the first "communion service." They thought that someone had simply lost it.