Wellhouse Church, Sisters, Oregon, USA

Mystery Worshipper: Brandi Anderson
Church: Wellhouse Church, Sisters
Location: Oregon, USA
Date of visit: Sunday, 16 February 2025, 10:00am

What was the name of the service?

Made to Run with Horses – Sunday Service.

How full was the building?

Mostly empty. When I first sat down there were about 15 people. As we started worship and singing, about 15 more people appeared. There were lots of empty chairs waiting for people to come sit in them. People never came.

Did anyone welcome you personally?

A jolly man with a stocking cap and a smile opened the outside door and welcomed me into the building. ‘Come on in and get warm,’ is what he said. I smiled back and walked in. There was nobody else that welcomed me into the sanctuary or told me where to sit or asked me my name or why I was there or where I was from... it felt a bit unwelcoming.

Was your pew comfortable?

Wellhouse has cushioned chairs made of oak, with grey tweed padded backs and seats. My arhtritic body felt comfortable sitting in this chair for 1.15 hours.

How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere?

The preservice vibe felt a bit like a funeral. It was quiet with just a few people standing in their cliques and clans. I did not hear laughter or even much talking. It was pregnant waiting for the music to start. A large screen projected numbered Bible trivia questions with multiple response options. I sat there reading the questions and watching the timer countdown to the start of service. I did not get any of the trivia questions right. For example, in John 3:16, ‘Who is Jesus speaking to?’ Do you know? I have no idea. But the answer is Nicodemus. God sent Jesus to save humanity. Rather than right or wrong answers, I would have much preferred the quiz to be about what the verse actually means – to save humanity. I felt like a loser of a trivia game and a loner sitting in a comfortable chair waiting for something to happen. I continued to answer Bible trivia questions, getting all of them wrong.

What were the exact opening words of the service?

‘Hello, good morning everyone.’

What books did the congregation use during the service?

The congregation did not use any books. There was an NIV Bible located in the chair in front of me that I picked up. There were no hymns, but the words of the music were displayed on a large screen.

What musical instruments were played?

Nord keyboard/piano, guitar, and a man rocking out with drums in a cage.

Did anything distract you?

A baby in the front row being held by an older woman. This baby looked back at me several times with his big brown eyes and perfectly pressed cowboy shirt. He had a pacifier in his mouth and was perfectly content to pull on this woman's necklace. I was slightly distracted by the people at the back of the sanctuary running the slide decks with the words to the music. They had a hard time finding the right slides for the music. So I kept looking back at them to find out what was up, and even thought about offering my assistance.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?

Worship here was subdued and felt a bit sad. The music was modern and I had never sang any of the songs they selected. These songs probably came from popular Christian artists but they were difficult for this music team of four to pull off. A man in what I would guess his 50s was rocking out – big time, in a cage. I am sure there is a musical term for this, but it was the most bizarre thing to watch him going for it with the full drum set and sticks. He had something in his ear, and I assume it was a mic to hear the rest of the music, but it wasn’t clear to me if he actually heard what was being sung outside the cage. Out of all the instruments, I heard the drums the most. This is not ideal during a worship experience. The rest of the musicians in talent and voice were average. The people standing during the worship songs were mostly statutes, swaying back and forth with an occasional hand lifted.

Exactly how long was the sermon?

41 minutes.

On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?

2 — The associate pastor’s style reminded me of a hip and cool mom who wears clothes trending from the latest fashion. She wore a camo shirt and black baggy jeans with a large hole over the knee. This, combined with some serious boots, gave her a bit of an edgy look. She was casual and stylish all at once.

In a nutshell, what was the sermon about?

The sermon was about having faith and taking action that matches that faith. The scripture came from Jeremiah 12:1-5, where Jeremiah complains to God that the way of the wicked prospers and the faithless live at ease in the world. God responds that ‘If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?’ The pastor told us that many lack faith, that we must be willing to enter into the thickets of the Jordan River with radical acceptance and faith. What was missing from the sermon was how to do this. The pastor lacked vulnerability and connection with the congregation. She never told me anything about her own life or even the church moving in and through people… and why God is real, alive, here, and willing to help us in our deepest darkest times, and also with us during celebrations, achievements, and times of great joy.

Which part of the service was like being in heaven?

There was a man in the second to front row standing alone. He must have been in his late 70s or early 80s. He had perfectly white hair and pale skin. During the closing song I watched him as he held up his hands toward heaven. He looked so faithful, peaceful, alone, and comforted. I thought to myself, this feels like what heaven will be like when we worship alone but with God.

And which part was like being in... er... the other place?

This is the hard part. I don’t want to be critical, but the sermon was really hard to follow. There were multiple pauses throughout the sermon. I did not know if the pastor was pausing because she was crying or if she was trying to get her thoughts together about what to say next. She read a story about a family driving a red mustang through the Colorado mountains, and the dad, mom, and three kids each having something going on. I had no idea who wrote the story, or what it had to do with the sermon. It was almost like she was looking for some material to extend the sermon.

What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?

I sat around for a while collecting my thoughts. Nobody came to me or even looked me in the eye. It was wild.

How would you describe the after-service coffee?

I had coffee before the service. It was average. Three men were standing around the coffee stand. I wasn’t sure if they were in line, so I waited. They ignored me and did not acknowledge that I was in line, so I walked up and poured myself a cup of coffee. While I was there, a woman was adding a water carafe to the stand. I looked and her and said, ‘Good morning, thank you for making the coffee, it’s delicious.’ She looked back at me, the only person who looked at me during my time in Wellhouse, and sighed, ‘The women who were supposed to make the coffee didn’t show up today, so the men had to do it.’ I just smiled back and went on my way. I did not see cookies or other items after the service. But I wanted to get out of there, so it could be there was a locked room with some goodies, for people in the know.

How would you feel about making another visit (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?

2 — Maybe I attended on an off Sunday and maybe this would be a different experience in the future. I know we don’t all speak the same language when it comes to church, spirituality and faith. This church and service might just be what others are looking for. I am just one person. One believer. Searching for a God experience.

Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?

No.

What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time ?

The visual presented in the sermon of riding on horseback... and the men on foot left behind.