Likewise, the way the music team and congregation sang was very different than an American style. Middle Eastern singing uses two practices that stood out. First, the practice of melisma attaches several notes to a single syllable, giving the singing a “sliding,” trilling sound.
Second, at numerous moments women in the congregation began making a high-pitched, trilling cry of celebration called zaghrouta or ululation. It sounds like a high-pitched, rapid, and musical “la-la-la-la-la-la.” Zaghrouta is deeply rooted in Middle Eastern culture, an audible sign of joy, honor, and celebration. At Heliopolis, zaghrouta rang out during moments of passionate worship, almost like a spontaneous “Amen!”
Two Takeaways from My Time at Heliopolis
As pastors and church leaders we can learn a lot from our brothers and sisters in Egypt, and I want to point out two things in particular.
First, the church at Heliopolis provides a helpful reminder that worship should always be contextual. Every culture has its own vocabulary and style of praise. We shouldn’t try to force non-indigenous musical and cultural styles, because they might obscure the gospel and true worship. Instead, we should work to authentically share and show the love of Jesus within the culture that he has called us to reach, all while remaining rooted in Scripture.
Second, the Christians at Heliopolis and in Egypt more broadly are a model of resilient joy. Amidst the challenges of being a minority religious group in a predominantly Muslim context, along with the ever-growing complexities of a diverse community, these believers were overflowing with celebration and hope. It’s a reminder to meet the moment with a mindset of mission. Our contexts and our communities need Jesus, and we’re called to reach and teach those around us in ways that make sense in the cultural situation. And we should be joyful as we do that, not giving up when things are challenging.
Visiting Heliopolis reminds us of ways that the global evangelical church is thriving, encouraging and challenging us as American, Western leaders. The style of the church was strikingly different but also a familiar reminder that the gospel we believe remains the same. This community of believers reminds us to expand our vision of what God is doing. What he is doing in the church is bigger than any one tradition or culture can capture, and we are called to mission within the languages and cultural contexts of the tribes and nations of the world.
