Mystery Worshipper: The Secret Service Seeker
Church: House of Destiny
Address: 25a Elliott Road, West Howe
Date: Easter Sunday
Time: 7.30
Fan-blooming-tastic!
Previous to this service I had started to wonder, dear reader, if people in Poole had called some sort of moratorium on becoming Christians just to fox us church dwellers. However at this church I found Jesus really was alive and very well amongst his new followers there.
It was a freezing cold night so it was great to step into the warm foyer of this church and get an equally warm handshake. As I passed the bookshop and beauty parlour I realised I was in for quite a different church experience than I was used to. The main church space was comfortable and modern and there were people of all ages and backgrounds already having a good time chatting, finding seats, chasing toddlers and setting up. It was already lively when the music started. “Strap yourselves in.” said the worship leader; I couldn’t find my seatbelt but I found there was no need for it because you could stand up, sit down, bop around at the front or mumble along at the back. It was very free and if there’s something I like a lot about being a Christian it’s the freedom.
There was quite a lot of singing all in one big chunk at the beginning, and then it was time for the talk by Pastor Keith Chapman-Burnet. Sometimes I dread these sort of services because I think I’ll get all emotional and do something unusual, but I didn’t dread this service for some reason and really enjoyed the whole thing, I think it was because I didn’t perceive any pressure or hype. I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time, the style was kind of American but more laid back, which made sense when my friend explained it was part of the Christian Outreach Centre movement, started in Australia. I digress, Pastor Keith gave a short (10 minutes) talk on the prodigal son with a film clip from Blood Diamond, projected onto two huge screens, to illustrate that God loves us and thinks we’re good people who can’t help sinning so he provided a way out. Then came the moment all the visitors had been waiting for, it was a baptismal service and we had turned out to see our near and dear ones get very blessed and very wet in the Lord’s sheep dip. You may want to sit down at this point if you’re not already seated because not one, not two, but eighteen, yes eighteen people got baptised. One of my companions told me to calm down as I went into Frankie Howard mode and couldn’t stop exclaiming, to anyone who would listen, “Eighteen!” It was so encouraging for a jaded old, prodigal son’s elder brother type of Christian like me, to see many of those getting baptised had only been Christians for a few months. They had moving stories to tell, some were dealing with depression, bereavement or addiction. My own baptism, some hundred years ago it seems, was a very solemn experience but this service was joyful and dare I say fun.
This lot are definitely doing something right, visit this church for a boost or forever. I’m hoping that at my church we can pick up a few tips, though I’m not sure which one of us will run the beauty parlour!
Date: 29-03-2008