Richmond Thursday church service builds following

RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) - The setting is casual, the atmosphere intimate yet relaxed.

There is food and drinks, music and fellowship, and, of course, a spiritual message.

Welcome to Thursday Church at First Assembly of God in Richmond.

In October, the non-traditional church service celebrated its second anniversary with a gathering featuring music, fellowship, dance and a teaching from the Bible.

And Thursday Church is quietly and casually building a solid following. It is the creation of First Assembly Pastor Carlos King.

"A couple of years ago, I sensed the need for a different kind of church service to reach people, a more relaxed social gathering with refreshments done in a shorter time than normal," the Rev King told the Palladium-Item . "Thursday Church was the result."

The service started with a handful of attendees, but soon the word spread and now between 40 and 50 people attend each week.

"It's one of the most comfortable church settings I've ever been in," said Andy Pitzher, a Richmond resident who goes to church in Connersville. "People are always welcoming, and there's great music and great lessons."

Worshippers sit at tables and face one another. They share coffee and snacks.

Saundra VanZant has been a member of First Assembly for more than 20 years and is a big fan of Thursday Church.

"The cafe-style setting is just very laid back. You get to know everybody better," she said. "You visit and have a chance to communicate. I think that's a wonderful idea."

Brad Boswell of Richmond attends Gateway Vineyard, a non-denominational Christian church in Richmond. He said he likes to attend the Thursday Church service because "it builds me back up and gets me ready for the rest of the week."

"It's really uplifting," Boswell said. "A lot of people go early and stay late for fellowship along with the praise and worship. That's really what it's about."

King genuinely is impressed with what the worship service has become. At times, he has interspersed Christian music and dance with video and discussion, plus a message.

"We've even played games for prizes," he said. "It's probably one of the highlights of my week. It's relaxed. It's non-traditional. I've seen a lot of growth. A lot of people have grown spiritually."