A Home for the Unlikely

Over the past few months, I’ve been sensing something stirring—a growing awareness of who God is shaping The Oak Community Church to be. At the day of prayer on Saturday much of this came into clearer focus. This isn’t a sudden realisation, and certainly not a finished thought yet. But it's a thread God keeps gently tugging on, revealing more clearly and inviting all of us to follow where He is leading us.

We’ve always wanted to be a welcoming place. Despite our ‘no perfect people allowed’ sign what we’re communicating is – everyone is welcome. None of us are perfect. That’s been part of our DNA for a long time. But I’m beginning to see that God is revealing something deeper. Not just about how we welcome people, but who we are as a church. It’s not a slick management strategy. It’s not another vision statement. It’s something the Holy Spirit has been breathing for a long time and is forming in us, one step at a time.

On our wall we have some vision statements. The one that is titled 'Imperfect People' has a verse from Romans 15:7: “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”

That’s not just a nice piece of wall art. It’s a living challenge. A reminder that our calling is not to build a church that looks impressive, but to be a people where others — imperfect, struggling, healing, searching people — can find a home.

What I’m realising is this: The Oak is becoming a church for those who often feel like they don’t belong anywhere else. People who are neurodiverse. People living with chronic illness. People wrestling with mental health. Those on the edges. Those who feel overlooked. And maybe even those who’ve tried other churches before, but couldn’t quite feel at home in them.

And I want to be clear—we’re not trying to be different for the sake of it. We’re not out to criticise or compete with other churches. We thank God for them. Truly. The world needs all different types of Churches. But we’ve been discovering and embracing the fact that we don’t have to be polished, professional, or perfect to be used by God. In fact, it’s often in the mess and the margins that Jesus does His most beautiful work.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29: “Not many of you were wise by human standards… But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the weak things… the lowly things… so that no one may boast before Him.”

That’s not an insult. It’s a deep encouragement. It reminds us that we don’t need to bring greatness to God’s table—just a willingness to be used. He takes what the world overlooks and turns it into something glorious.

The truth is, we’re not building this church. Jesus is.

“I will build my church,” He said, “and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)

That takes the pressure off. We don’t have to figure everything out. We don’t need to manufacture momentum or match anyone else’s model. Our job is simply to listen, to follow, and to love people as He does.

So yes, this is still a work in progress. We’re still becoming. Still discovering. Still being surprised by the grace of God and the people He’s bringing our way.

But if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s this: God is building a home here. A place where people who feel like they don’t belong can finally stop searching.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s what The Oak was always meant to be.