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| 2604: FaithWay
Baptist, Ajax, Ontario, Canada |
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Mystery
Worshipper: Ronnie.
The church:
FaithWay
Baptist, Ajax, Ontario, Canada.
Denomination:
Independent Fundamental Baptist.
The building:
Modern looking brick building constructed in 1981. It is a large
church that I would estimate seats about 800.
The church:
They have a heart for missions and currently support 199 missionary
families. They have also established a school and a Bible college
on their property.
The neighbourhood:
Ajax is a town about 15 miles east of Toronto. It is named in
honour of the HMS Ajax, a ship that took part in numerous actions
during World War II, including the first significant British
naval victory of the war. Originally the site of a munitions
plant, the town saw significant growth after the war and today
serves as a bedroom community for commuters to Toronto and the
surrounding area. When FaithWay opened at its present location
in 1981, it was across the street from a farm. But the community
is growing rapidly, and new house construction is booming in
this formerly rural area.
The cast:
The Revd Robert E. Wall, pastor.
The date & time:
September 22, 2013, 6.00pm.
What was the name of the service?
Evening Worship Service.
How full was the building?
Almost full – about 95 per cent.
Did anyone welcome you
personally?
Yes. Many people welcomed us at the door, where a fellow handed
me a bulletin. Once we were seated inside, seven or so people
came to where we were sitting and introduced themselves. Some
asked if we were visiting, if we lived in the community, and
so forth.
Was your pew comfortable?
The pew was relatively comfortable. It was wooden with a lovely thick cushion on it.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
There was a mild din, with everyone talking and greeting each
other.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Good evening. Let's turn to hymn number 147: 'Leaning
on the Everlasting Arms.'"
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
The Bible (their website states that it is their practice to
use only the King James Version) and Soul Stirring Songs
and Hymns.
What musical instruments were played?
Organ, grand piano, flute and trumpet.
Did anything distract you?
If anything distracted me a little, it was the woman in front
of me. Not her, but her hat. It was enormous and completely
blocked my view of anything that was occurring at the front
of the building. I had to bend over a great deal to see anything
past her head.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
The worship was robust: good solid bouncy hymns in the Baptist
or Salvation Army tradition, sung with gusto.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
31 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
8 – In spite of the sermon being extraordinarily long by
my standards, the preacher was extremely engaging. He spoke
crisply and told amusing stories that made the sermon memorable.
In a nutshell, what was
the sermon about?
The sermon was based on 2 Chronicles 12 (as punishment for Israel's
abandonment of God under King Rehoboam, God allows Shishak to
sack Jerusalem). We must not to trade our brass for gold, but
rather be authentic and transparent in our relationships with
God and others. Be genuine. Do not be lifted up with pride,
the high price of hypocrisy, but rather seek the Lord and do
not tolerate even a little sin.
Which part of the service
was like being in heaven?
This church has a fabulous choir. There were about 50 voices
and they sang a beautiful medley at the start of the service.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
Just that the sermon was long. It could have been condensed
into about ten minutes without missing any important points.
What happened when you
hung around after the service looking lost?
No one spoke to me after the service – I would guess that
they were all rushing to get home for dinner. The service was
at an odd time – 6.00pm – and I felt as they did:
hungry!
How would you describe
the after-service coffee?
There was none.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
9 – If I were looking for a church, I'd be delighted to
make this my church home, despite their ultra-conservative views
on the role of women in church governance. It seems to be a
good church.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Oh yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The wonderful music throughout. |
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| One of our most seasoned reporters makes the Camino pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Read here. |
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