The church is not a building.

It both amuses and frustrates me everytime someone asks me if our church plays movies on Sundays. It still surprises me that some people have the perception that we don't have live sermons or a live band, but think that we simply watch a movie the whole time.

I think the reason is because so many people have the wrong perception of what Christ's CHURCH is all about. It saddens me to think that so many people these days have come to think of the church as being a building or a denomination. I want to say, we are not the building! We are simply a Christ centered church that happens to meet in a movie theater for worship on Sundays.

It's actually a very practical thing to do. We're a very young church that could no way afford to build or buy a building, especially one in Webster. And leasing a large space for worship that meets all the right legal code requirements for handicap people & crowds gathering is much more complex than most people realize. SO if you think about it, it really makes sense to have Sunday Services at the theater. There's over 300 young churches that meet in movie theaters in the US.

Honestly, the Eastside of Rochester is a tough place to start a new church. We're on a mission from God to reach unchurched people and people far from God and help them to find their way back to God. We're here to reach out to people and help them to discover the transforming power of God's love. We're not a social club. We're not a buisness. We're not in this for our own person gain. We are called by God to be His messenger to share the GOOD NEWS with as many people as God brings to our God family.
 
Our church has almost doubled in size in the last five years. We've baptized 21 people in the last 15 months. We are still not a huge church by any means. The theater we meet in has over 300 seats and it tends to make us feel smaller than we are. The great thing about the movie theater is that it tends to be a place where unchurched people feel very comfortable coming to a Sunday service for the first time. It's so not intimidating. People feel comfortable coming in Jeans. God uses the atmosphere, the music, the messages & big screen media to make formerly unchurched people feel relaxed, unpressured and welcomed. It's not about the building after all, it is about worshipping God in spirit and truth just as the Bible describes:

John 4:24
"For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Too many people get caught up in the 'religious trappings' or following rules or attending programs or putting their focus all on the the building. Our focus is centered on worshipping Jesus in spirit and truth. And in doing that, our number one mission is to continue to reach out and welcome those who don't know Him, have wandered away from Him or just plain given up on His Church. We know that's what Jesus has called us to do because that is His mission still today. That is why the Church is called the Body of Christ.

No, the church is not a building. It is a family of God on a mission with Christ! It's not an easy mission but it's one that's worth giving your life too! If you don't have a church, but you want to experience the presence and power of God in an amazing way that will bless you beyond belief, Come and join us this Sunday! I guarantee you will hear the truth and if you're seeking with the right heart, you will feel His Spirit!!!

1 Corinthians 1:18
" For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish; but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God."

Much Love in Him,
Pastor Lin :-)