Virtual church services now on the big screen

EVERY Sunday a group of about 50 people file into Nu Metro’ s cinema 3 at the Boardwalk.

But they are not there for the latest blockbuster. Instead, they have come for their weekly encounter with God’s word – on the big screen.

iChurch services are slowly taking off in Nelson Mandela Bay with their “straight to the point” messages.

iChurch describes itself as a “borderless church ... making God’s Word accessible by taking advantage of technology”.

The iChurch was started by Pastor Jerome Liberty, of Victory Life Ministries, and his wife, Eunice.

Services start at 9am, with “congregants” singing three praise songs. The service – in the format of a pre-recorded DVD – then starts.

And of course, like most other churches, tithes are also welcome, only here, instead of offerings plates being passed around, congregants can make their contribution via online banking.

Andre deJager, 36, attends the services regularly.

“The only difference between the normal church and the iChurch is that it is dark inside. Otherwise the word of God is the same. It is uplifting to come here and a lot of people get healed.”

Humewood resident Priscilla Adams, 32, said she enjoyed the service.

“There is not a lot that is done and the message is just straight to the point. I started coming here when it was launched in August 2012. I immediately fell in love with the concept and since then I have been coming every Sunday,” she said. But Ncumisa Budaza, 21, disagreed. “It did not feel like I was in church. There was no pastor to preach the word of God and we had to watch everything on the big screen.”

The Libertys said the iChurch was not an attempt to replace traditional churches.

According to the church’s website, it is part of a move to take church outside of four walls and make it accessible to an “un-churched” cyberspace generation who are most comfortable with socialising and accessing information via technology.

It is a relevant worship experience using visuals to communicate a timeless message of God’s unconditional love, the website says.