HOOVER, Ala. — On the right side of Facebook’s newsfeed is a section titled “trending,” a list of the most-discussed topics on the world’s largest social network at that moment. On Saturday, at the top of the list, right above a Saturday Night Live skit and a bizarre NBA play, was this: “Buffalo Wild Wings: Birmingham, Alabama, church to hold services in local chain restaurant.”
A story that appears to have started locally early last week slowly worked up steam, picking up coverage by numerous outlets before exploding as the focus of a David Letterman segment on CBS’ Late Show (Video below).
Hoover’s Riverchase United Methodist Church for the first time Sunday, Dec. 14, will hold their morning service — now dubbed “The Stream” — at the Buffalo Wild Wings on John Hawkins Parkway.
“We believe there’s a population that would attend a service there that wouldn’t go to a church,” Rev. Wesley Savage told al.com. “We hope it’s going to be a more inviting atmosphere… We want it to be a dialogue, questions and discussion about a topic: Why God? Why the church? Why the Bible? Why should I care about these things?”
It’ll be a short service — about 45 minutes long — and for the time being won’t include any music because the restaurant’s staff will be preparing for the lunch rush as the service is taking place.
And in spite of the flood of inquiries, the pastor says the service will not include the serving of alcohol.
“We’re going to encourage people to stay for lunch, stay for sports,” he said. “This is part of the partnership. We’ll help them with their business because they’re helping us.”
What do you think about a church holding its services in a sports bar?
(Video below: “Top Ten Things Overheard At The Buffalo Wild Wings Church” – David Letterman)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4F49qG9IDY
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— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) December 3, 2014
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