Picking a facility: theaters & schools

Unfiltered: Real Church Planting Conversations

Where is your church plant going to gather for Sunday services? Converge church planting leaders Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss the pros and cons of meeting in a theater or school.

1:16 Lee talks about why his first church plant in Arizona chose to meet in a movie theater.

2:11 Lee says that movie theaters are usually willing to rent to churches because Sunday mornings are a dead time for them.

2:24 Lee discusses the benefits meeting in a movie theater provided, including lots of lobby space, good parking and comfortable seating.

2:48 Lee encourages planters to stay away from dollar theaters and theaters that have reclining seats.

3:44 Lee talks about how his church was able to rent out multiple rooms in the theater as the church grew.

4:02 Lee says having a limited amount of time to meet for services was a challenge. The theater charged them double if they went over their allotted time.

4:57 Lee explains how his church plant did children’s ministry in a movie theater.

7:22 Lee says another challenge was getting electricity for running sound systems, instruments and lighting. His church got permission by the movie theater to pay an electrician to come in and run extra power.

7:49 Lee says the theater allowed them to store their equipment inside the building during the week.

8:44 Lee talks about how the church was able to have a good relationship with the theater and its staff.

9:30 Lee discusses how much it cost to rent the theater.

11:23 Danny and Lee talk about how Regal Cinemas has people to work with churches.

12:18 Danny and Lee shift the conversation to talking about schools.

12:49 Lee says if you’re going to go into a school, a high school should be the first one that you talk to.

13:13 Lee talks about how meeting in a large performing arts facility at a high school was actually a hindrance for his church plant.

14:07 Danny discusses some of the challenges his church plant faced while meeting in a school.

15:22 Danny talks about ways to create children’s ministry space in a school.

16:33 An elementary or middle school will probably cost less than a high school. But they usually don’t have as much parking available and don’t have a gymnasium or performing arts facility to meet in.

17:40 Danny explains why it’s becoming more difficult to rent at schools.

18:51 Lee points out that elementary and middle schools are usually tucked away in a community. He recommends finding a place where people naturally drive.