Church Service Is One Of A Kind

By Ashley Coleman First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- It?s not your typical Sunday morning church crowd. From the young and hip ? to the older and more conservative folks, everyone seems to have a place at Canvas Church.

They meet every Sunday at the AMC Theatres in the Orange Park Mall. Freshly roasted Starbucks is sold outside the theater, and inside, there is a band playing live music.

"We're not so much about stained glass and choir robes. That's OK, but it's not us,? said Pastor Aaron Maners.

He started the church last year, after moving to Jacksonville from Austin. He wanted to bring people from all walks of life, together under one roof. The roof he chose, isn?t exactly a traditional one. That?s the idea, he says.

?We wanted to have a place that was kind of an even playing field for everyone or a place that was non-threatening,? Maners said.

His wife thought of the name, Canvas Church, which holds special meaning.

"They can believe their life is a blank canvas for God to paint on, and so the byline of the church is 'your life, your canvas,' and that's kind of the spirit behind it all," Maners said.

Church goers like the Croft family, say they like the atmosphere at Canvas Church.

"You can come as you are,? said Joshua Croft. ?I'm very comfortable coming in jeans or shorts and a t-shirt."

Others, like Ryan Riojas, who helped start the church, says it?s more about a sense of community than the location.

"It does smell like popcorn when we come in in the morning and our shoes are sticking to the floor a little bit, but we do the best that we can and it's been great so far,? Riojas told First Coast News.

Once inside the theater, church members sing along to the band?s music, which has a contemporary, rock sound. Then Pastor Maners takes over, telling everyone about the public service work he wants them to be a part of. They are collecting backpacks full of school supplies for needy children.

After awhile, he starts the weekly prayer service, and everyone takes a seat ? a very comfortable, cushy seat inside the movie theater.

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