Newcastle has the Angel of the North, the Tyne Bridge, St James Park and a vibrant night life, yet what it sadly lacks is a relaxing and accessible cinema.
In light of this, over the last few months, City Church Newcastle have been in the process of turning their old-industrial warehouse used for church on a Sunday into mid-week community space where students are able to hangout, feast on bags of pick n mix, bond over a good old DMC, watch the latest action-packed movies, but most importantly, hear the good new of Jesus!
Through the help of Just Sow funding, City Church have run a handful of cinema club evenings for students who felt confident enough to invite their mates along. On the first evening, one female student, who picked up a flyer in her nearby residential hall, stepped inside the cinema club having never been to church or heard about Jesus. Before the movie started, she heard testimonies of students sharing how Jesus had transformed their lives throughout their time at university. When the movie finished, she confessed she was excited to return for the next showing! Since then, not only have students continued to spontaneously wander into the cinema club on their way through to town but some have also started attending an alpha course.
It is still humble beginnings for the cinema club but there is a feeling full of faith that this will be a space that grows and becomes a gateway into church for the unchurched. Do pray students will take more ownership over the missional space and will feel empowered to invite friends along to hear about Jesus.
Up the Toon!
