Chris Synesael would be the first to admit heB次元官网网址檚 not your average preacher, if the place heB次元官网网址檚 holding Sunday service didnB次元官网网址檛 give it away.
In the plush chairs of the newly opened Langford Cineplex Odeon, Synesael will lead the congregation of West Village Church through scripture, prayer and song B次元官网网址� projecting the words on the big screen for folks to follow along.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e a church for people who wouldnB次元官网网址檛 usually go to church,B次元官网网址� the 32-year-old says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all about breaking down the boundaries that keep people from coming to church.B次元官网网址�
The music is contemporary, the dress code is nonexistent, and no topics are off limits.
Synesael was a youth pastor at Saanich Baptist church for 10 years before starting West Village, so heB次元官网网址檚 used to tough questions and he welcomes them. He describes his style of preaching as, B次元官网网址渦napologetically truthful.B次元官网网址�
And if the 100 people that come every Sunday are any indication, itB次元官网网址檚 something young adults are particularly attracted to.
The average age of adults in the congregation is around 30 years old, much younger than most churches. A lot are young families with kids.
B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檙e doing might offend some church people,B次元官网网址� Synesael said. B次元官网网址淏ut the people we want to engage are people that would be offended by the traditional church, who donB次元官网网址檛 like the structure.B次元官网网址�
Synesael decided to start West Village after learning that West Shore has the lowest church attendance in the region. Only 1,600 West Shore residents, or two per cent of the population, attend church on the average Sunday, according to Synesael.
He began the church last February with 25 people meeting in his living room. By April, West Village started meeting monthly at the Caprice movie theatre, and when the Cineplex opened they made it their weekly meeting place.
B次元官网网址淭he theatre is neutral territory. You know where it is and your way around it, you donB次元官网网址檛 have to ask where the bathroom is,B次元官网网址� Synesael said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 less intimidating than going somewhere totally new.B次元官网网址�
Throughout the summer, the church has held free barbecues outside Ruth King elementary after Sunday service. They set up bouncy castles, activities for the kids and invite everyone to hang out. This helped attract members.
B次元官网网址淧eople (non-church members) would come by and wonder who we were partying at the school, and weB次元官网网址檇 invite them to join us,B次元官网网址� Synesael said.
Throughout the week the church has social groups that meet in coffee shops and pubs. West VillageB次元官网网址檚 first baptism will be this fall B次元官网网址� at Thetis lake.
Synesael has high hopes for the church, the first being that heB次元官网网址檒l attract a large enough congregation to warrant moving into the deluxe 300-seat theatre with leather chairs. He also wants to become more involved in the community, beginning with supporting Ruth King by donating to programs there.
B次元官网网址淚 want people to look back and think, IB次元官网网址檓 really glad this guy decided to start a church in his living room,B次元官网网址� Synesael said.
West Village Church meets at 10 a.m. Sundays at the Langford Cineplex movie theatre.
ItB次元官网网址檚 final community barbecue of the season, at Ruth King, will be held following after itB次元官网网址檚 grand opening service on Oct. 2.
West Village is online at www.westvillagechurch.com.
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