At first glance, cinema’s and Christianity seem to have little in common. However, if you visit local cinemas in the UK you may see a trailer advertising the alpha course. The trailer asks “is there more to life than this?” and aims to encourage people to attend a course which provides an introduction to Christianity. Alpha attendance seems to be on the increase in the UK, where 1.8 million people have now attended a course. The alpha course is run in many different venues, including at least one cinema- Enfield Cineworld. The premier bar area of this cinema will play host to an alpha course beginning on Thursday 20th October at 7pm, and according to the organisers, places are filling up fast.
Ask Tope Kolleoso about shrinking church attendances and he will look at you quizzically. As the pastor of a rapidly growing church which hosts both alpha and its main sunday meeting at Enfield Cineworld, he feels people are still interested in God.
Tope said “Many people today still believe in God but believe Church is boring and irrelevant. Holding our Alpha course and church meetings in this popular cinema brings us closer to modern people. We are finding that many people today do believe that there is more to life than the daily grind. Alpha gives people a chance to meet new friends in a relaxed context over dinner and discuss together the meaning of life.
Jubilee is an informal, modern church and people of many different backgrounds are joining us at the moment. Many people today believe that they are on some kind of spirtual journey, we want to help them explore the next step for them – even if in the end they decide not to join our church”
For more information see http://www.jubilee-church.org or call Stuart Emsley on 0870 242 5451
For information about the Alpha Course visit http://uk.alpha.org/
Previous post: Terry Virgo in the blogosphere and UCCF
Next post: More foolishness…..what have I started?
