Mike - Finding Church

Finding Church

Finding a church to attend has not been easy.

My first Sunday here, I was running back and forth with still trying to get situated in my new position.  The second Sunday, I had just finished getting dressed and was about to head out the door, when one of the rigs called – they had a man who needed to go to the hospital – could I help?

But yesterday, I was finally successful

I found a church that meets at the mall and to be honest, I was more than impressed.  The chairs can recline, each one has its own armrest, with a little slot for your drink… wait…oh, that’s because it meets in one of the movie theatre.

Now, one thing I have already observed is how reserved the majority of the people here are.  When I have the weekly safety meeting, the Americans lounge back, sometimes have the bored look and share what they are thinking, whereas the nationals sit straight up, are very intense in their focus, but don’t speak out much. 

That wasn’t the case with church service.

There was clapping… there was shouting in joy… there were hands held up in praise.

And the thing I have to remember, is less than 18% of the country is Christian.  Outnumbered by the Buddhist 2 to 1, and the remaining are either Muslim, Hindu, or atheist.  But each person at service, I could tell – they were there because this was where they wanted to be… not where they thought they should be on a Sunday morning.

In fact, the roads are still relatively empty this early in the morning.  But  by the time service started, the ushers were busy finding that one or two seats still left open for those still walking in.   Each row in the theatre has 35 seats, and there are 25 rows.  I know the picture above from their web site doesn’t show a packed service – that’s not what I was seeing – better than 80% of the seats were taken up.

The preacher – Pastor Nelly – he is Asian, and he has a hint of New Zealand accent.  Maybe he is Somoan?  And he wears ear rings!

The sermon was about the Good Samaritan … and it was convicting!  Near the end, he reminded everyone, this is the Every Nation Church.  “Most of us come from other countries – well Foreigner – you are not here just to make your fortune, or advance your career – God has brought you here because Singapore is your mission field!”

Convicting!

But even before the sermon really started, I knew I had found the church I want to be a part of while I live in Singapore.  It wasn’t the music… it wasn’t the seats (ok…those did help)… it was the update he gave about the new church they planted – EN Central.

It meets in a Bar on Sunday morning… and as the pastor says, “we chose that location because literally right outside our door, is the street plaza that has the most notorious reputation for being internationally known for the prostitution that takes place”.

He says they are going to where the hurt is great, to share the love of Jesus.  Not picking a “safe and easy” location, but like the Good Samaritan parable, because we the Church, are the inn for the wounded, waiting for the Samaritan to return.

Wow!