Planetshaker’s, The Banquet — A community meal, or something more?

Last Friday I took my family to a community meal, called The Banquet, that was provided by Planetshakers church recently in Ringwood. This was not the first time, in fact, I was so angry about what happened at the first meal that I was hesitant to go to the second, but for ensuring the same mistake was not made twice.

The first community meal was about the second of third that Planetshakers had run in Ringwood. While city based, they run small groups all over the metropolitan area and it seems that the Eastern Melbourne small groups decided to “serve” the local community by providing a meal. First let me say, the meal was fantastic, the food was wonderful, the setting and ambience was nice, but the what occurred while we ate and shared a meal was abhorrent. Throughout the meal, a stills camera captured everyone eating etc. In addition, a video camera roamed and panned the crowds capturing every mouth full. The night ended with the drawing of a raffle in which a limited number of bags of groceries, or toiletries or whatever were handed out to the winners. My daughter and wife won one each much to my embarrassment! We did give out the bag’s contents later to some folk who needed it more than us.

After that first meal, I emailed the church and the group leader and complained that they should not have videoed and photographed the guests without their permission. In fact, I wasn’t going to call, but after talking with several regulars at The Dining Room and Vive Cafe and hearing how they were distressed by the cameras that I felt compelled to call. It felt like a dog and pony show. Like we, the guests, were fed so they could film. After a couple of weeks I had a call from the small group leader who ensured me that they meant no harm. That the footage was to be used to garner some funds from the local council (a whole other post!).

So, this second meal I was prepared to speak to the team about the cameras if they did not mention that they were filming and photographing and offer guests and option not to be. Much to my pleasure, and their credit, this did happen and I was prepared to enjoy the meal for what it appeared to be — a community meal. But, that was to be ruined when they handed out pens with forms for everyone to fill out with their details — and with the offer to visit and offer pastoral care.

Firstly, I do not see these meals as a community effort, more like pleasant “drop-ins” on the regular lives of the guests. How can they, the Planetshaker team, get to know anyone when the meals are every three months? While a wonderful change to the seeming mundane meals that are on offer each week by organisations such as churches who struggle each week with volunteers, let alone food and finances.

Secondly, the forms offered were an effort to capture names and addresses for the purposes of contact by the church and sending of material — the base being the next meal flyer. Again, I say, how can they truly serve and get to know and travel with these guests just from an irregular meal and a form? Will they know the issues these people have? Will they start to share with them the evil and profane “prosperity gospel” offering a false hope that belittles the hope we have in Jesus?

Perhaps I am being too fast to judge Planetshakers and the motives of the group providing the meals. Perhaps I am jaded and tainted by the sweat and tears of living daily in the neighbourhood and seeing these people as neighbours and friends? Maybe so, but I question and call upon Planetshakers to respond — why did they not talk with those offering existing meals, the groups and organisations that could have offered advice, become partners and utilised the enthusiasm and resources that it is obvious that Planetshakers have? Are they professing to be serving these people because they love them or what they potentially offer?

Sorry, but when a church that has thousands attend and sells CD’s etc and rolls in the money, I tend to question their motives. I am sure that many of the kids helping had their heart in the right place, but perhaps weekly encounters with their guests might tend to shift their gaze from the bright, loud and colourful stage, to the gutters and darkness that is often in the lives of those they are professing to love and serve.