Theater of faith

After months of holding services at a school, The Vertical Church has finally found a permanent home - in a movie theater.

The church recently moved into the old Mandarin Cinemas building, 3142 Arizona Ave. The congregation of Free-Will Baptists, had previously met at Pueblo Elementary School.

"We are really excited about our new building services," said Pastor Jason Taylor, adding the congregation put serious effort into renovating the building.

"We had to paint everything, build a stage, put in lights and sound, and renovated two of the auditoriums to turn them into a children's ministry with a space theme. All four of the auditoriums still have movie screens, and we use them for multimedia presentations."

The Vertical Church will host its first service Sunday at 10 a.m. The grand-opening celebration will be held Aug. 16. For more information, call 726-3007.

Taylor said their name was chosen because of its unique characteristics.

"We have a vertical focus on God, and we have a horizontal reach to others in need. We just thought it was a cool name, and it sets us apart because it is not just a normal church name."

Throughout the past few years, the Vertical Church has made a name for itself by hosting distinctive campaigns.

In 2008, the church dropped thousands of eggs out of a helicopter for Easter and has also handed out gasoline discounts when the price of fuel skyrocketed.

"We want to show God cares for everyone's practical needs," he said. "We do all of these things to show God's love and can serve the community and serve others, because that is what Jesus would if he were here today."

Taylor said he has wanted to move the church into the old movie theater for years.

"When I started the church four years ago with my wife, Melissa, they were still showing movies at the theater. I sat in the parking lot and prayed for the use of that building for the church, and now our faith has been rewarded; God built us up to be able to afford it."

Taylor said the building is just an instrument in their ministry.

"Our mission has never really been about a building, and this all happened in 30 days. We are about being the hands and feet of Jesus, and this building will help us do more acts of kindness. Success is not measured by a seating capacity but its sending capacity."

Taylor said the building will help the church reach more people.

"We have already touched lives and we want to help more. We want to help people with no strings attached, and the building will help. The building is just a tool to help us be a church."

Taylor said even though the church is technically Free-Will Baptist, they don't believe in labeling their religion.

"Denominations are just tags that tend to put up barriers in people's minds. As Free-Will Baptists, we believe man has a free will to choose God or not to. We have free grace and salvation, and don’t have to work for our salvation."

Taylor said the church is starting a new campaign to spread their faith.

"The Uprising Campaign is about the church rising up and being a church. It is not about a building or a program, but individuals being the hands and feet of Jesus. We are moving into this building by faith and are waiting to see what God does for us in the next year."

**Click here for a slideshow of The Vertical Church: http://www.yumasun.com/sections/slideshow/?id=478722