Gerbils scrambling all over the shop, miniature cars zooming around a track, shouts of “hole in one!” & “Goal!” coming from the same room and hundreds of people young & old running around on top of 48 Barker Road with happy smiles all over.

Yes, Barker Road Methodist Church turns 50 this year and an event called “Family Day” was held last Saturday to kick off the celebrations.

50 is known as the jubilee year and TONS of effort was put in to ensure that everyone shared in the joy. In my opinion, that goal was ensured when dinner was revealed, cause simply put, it was insane – I mean there were 3 friggin’ chocolate fountains la. No wonder people always say BRMC is a rich mans church.

Actually that’s the irony of it all, although BRMC may contain the influential and affluent, with regards to its spiritual wealth, I really find the place quite bankrupt. I’ve been going around visiting different churches for the past few months or so and the seriousness for God that some of the much smaller churches display has really made me wonder what on earth is happening at my home church, and what on earth am I doing there.

Thoughts have been drifting in an out of my mind with regards to my ‘Sunday morning’ future. Should I start my exodus from the church that has given me so much opportunity & helped me grow up in so many different aspects (minus the physical) simply because I think that I have ‘outgrown’ it? Or do I believe that I have something to offer to help solve the spiritual dryness which many feel?

At the moment, there are only 2 things that are keeping me in Barker. First is the youth music ministry which I am heading. I have been laboring for over a year now and remain driven with the vision of building a happening youth music ministry. It has been the joy of my life & the pain up my ass simultaneously but I must admit, it is a hugely fulfilling job. However my term ends soon so what happens next?

Second reason is the community. I honestly love the people of BRMC, young & old. But that’s where my meaning in church ends. Church has become a place for me to work & play, whatever happened to the learning & worshipping? That’s where my dilemma lies… If indeed what Church means to me is a place where I am to grow closer to God through the sermons & praising Him through the music, then I really should go cause I don’t really get it here. BUT, do I really need a Church to give me that?

You see for me, as far as the Christian walk is concerned, 90% of it comes from the daily communion with God & walking with Him wherever you go and the additional you get from “feeding” (sermons, bible studies, cell group etc) is just the remaining 10%. In fact, I find the point of all those sermons & stuff is just to inspire us to get into that personal relationship with God, cause that’s what being a Christian is all about.

So with that view, do I really need to find another church after all? Cause truly, Barker Road Methodist Church is family to me, and though it may be dysfunctional, it is still my home. And I love it!