The signs say “ReaLife Café.” There is no indication a church meets inside. But if you open the door on a Sunday at 11:00 a.m., you will find a room buzzing with young adults and children, fresh coffee at the café counter, and the rest of the room set up for worship.
ReaLife Church is designed around the café, which serves as a drop-in center for the community on weekdays. The café is a symbol of the church’s determination to (1) be part of the community and (2) provide a nonthreatening setting for faith-oriented conversation. You might call it, “Friends” Finds Jesus and Moves to Bridesburg. The Bridesburg neighborhood of northeast Philadelphia is a tightly knit community with many long-term residents. If you want to gain a hearing for the gospel, you need to show that you are settling down and committing yourself to the community. The café sounds like a good strategy.
ReaLife Church, www.realifephilly.org, was launched a little over a year ago, though the pastor, Rob Burns, and others have conducted informal ministry in the area since 2000. They’re off to a good start, with a dedicated core group.
This new church is part of a church planting network called Acts 29, based in Seattle. Go ahead; look it up. There is no Acts 29, which is the point. The next “chapter” of God’s mission to the world is the continued expansion of the church as it takes the gospel to the world.
This is a winsome, faith filled, savvy cluster of believers on fire for God’s mission. May their tribe increase.
Posted in Church Reviews
