At the outset, I must qualify that the account given below is my personal view-point. I am not driven by anybody but only by a passion to write.Yes, I would call the Petaling Jaya Evangelical Free Church (PJEFC) which I attend a middle class church, one could say – it’s a family church, or a church for young professionals and working class people both young and old.
It’s a sort of a little town church growing up in a big city. It is neither a rich man’s nor a poor man’s church. To me, it’s a practical church suitable for all, a modern contemporary church, with no frills and that’s enough for me.
I think it is a church that’s still trying hard to find its niche in the community it serves. It’s not there yet, but I think it’s going places!
Call it whatever you like, it’s nonetheless a great place to promote friendship, worship and fellowship.
The current size of its congregation is about 700 strong. By ordinary standards, it is not exactly small, I would say.
However, its auditorium/sanctuary can house more than 2,000 I am told; so the present congregation in the house is only one third full which means that there is plenty of room for new believers and their un-churched friends to congregate here.
No congestion at all, so you can come up close and get real personal, if you know what I mean.
There are no bells, no steeple or anything like that, nor even a big “cross” signage on the outside to signify it.
Nothing of the sorts that would give it the impression of a fairy-tale like church such as a “church in the wildwood” of the type the Americans especially would love to see.
The building which houses it is known as “The Heritage Centre”. It is just too plain for the eye to see. To be exact, if you are coming, look for #3, Jalan 13/6, that’s where it is.
Why this church? What makes this church special? What makes it tick that I think would entice you to visit and to stay?
For one, the warmth of its people speaks volumes of the kind of fellowship that’s in this church. The smiling faces, the warm hand shakes, and everywhere you turn there are expressions of humility, kindness and friendliness. No ceremony at all.
Secondly, it is not short on good speakers. Sermons are well researched and contents are often witty, thought provoking and challenging. Try one and see what I mean.
Furthermore, Cell Groups meet weekly in homes to further digest and explore the meaning and application of the sermon that had been delivered in the preceding week.
To me, this is a “teaching” church in the true sense of the word. It is a church that’s strongly grounded in the Word.
Why I say teaching is because if you have a good ear to hear, you’ll learn a lot and see deeper into God’s word especially when you keep up with your attendance in the Sunday Service as well as in the cell groups which meet on Fridays.
There are also many on going in-house programs which actually equip new or old Christians with in-depth knowledge of the Bible, both the OT and the NT.
The church which in short, we called PJEFC is also a popular venue for hosting guest speakers and/or missionaries from all over the world who would come to conduct evangelistic or discipleship seminars that have benefited not only members of our own congregation but also fellow Christians from other churches around the country.
To name a few, guest speakers have included Rick Warren (of Purpose Driven Life fame), Edmund Chan (Emmanuel EFC Singapore), and Peter Tsukahira (Tsunami of God).
The famed evangelistic outreach program known as “The ALPHA Course”, a creation by the English pastor Nicky Gumble, is also conducted by this church twice a year.
Predominately, PJEFC is an English speaking church but I am told it has a growing congregation in the Chinese service as well which it conducts separately.
It also has an active Bahasa-Indonesia Ministry and a much sought-after Sunday School (in English) for kids.
Need I say more; go and read my other article entitled “A man and his church” that’s posted on this blog, in the month of January 2009.
If you are seeking God or hunger for Biblical wisdom, why not seriously consider coming to this church?
I like it here. It’s my kind of church, no frills or thrills, just plain authentic worship, great fellowship and abundant friendship.
Meantime, enjoy this lovely rendition of “The church in the wildwood” by Dolly Parton, courtesy of "manbehindthescreen".
I attend pjefc regularly. I would like to share some of my thoughts about your post. Firstly, it ain't middle class. It IS an upper class church. Just count the number of Mercedes parked around it. Personal? What's personal? The music is noisy, there isn't much reflection at all, the sermons are shallow and the church leaders messages are sometimes blibically out of context and theologically incorrect. They are not thought provoking nor chellenging (to me). Pastor Soon Hock mentioned that he does not believe in the sinner's prayer. What are your thoughts on that? However, I am glad that you are one of those few who have found friends there but do you realise that sometimes when you meet someone in the washroom, it's just like meeting a stranger on the street. There's 'closeness' but it's hard to feel it......
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