TYBEE ISLAND, GA (WTOC) -
Hearing the sounds of Sunday morning worship is inspiring to many people, including a crowd that gathers at Benny's Tybee Tavern for church service. The bar becomes a place of worship on Sunday mornings, and it's led by a man name Samuel Adams (Yes, that's his birth name!).
Adams is an ordained minister, but prefers to be called a psalmist. He started hosting church service in bars three years ago.
He said, "What a great idea to use a facility that's not being used and it just transforms it into a worship center. You walk in and you know something's different going on."
Tybee Bar Church started out with only five people, but now has grown to about 150 people, many of whom are looking for a place of worship where they feel accepted.
Tybee Island resident Jeanne' Marie Love said, "A lot of us, like me, don't really want a traditional church right now. We want a church that accepts us for who we are, what we do, and does not judge."
Micheal Elliott, also of Tybee Island, said, "Bar Church takes church to where the people really are, instead of churches requiring people to go where church is. That's what makes it special."
William Thompson, also a Tybee Island resident, has been attending Tybee Church for the past three months. He said, "It's strange, but it's nice. I love it." Before I came to church here I had a pretty rough time and it's been a life changer for me."
And many others who go to the bar, not to drink, but to worship feel the same as Thompson.
Psalmist Adams said, "It's just awesome to see people come out and experience God."
No alcohol is consumed while worshipping. Instead, breakfast, juice, and coffee are provided.
Tybee Church has worship service every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at Benny's Tybee Tavern (1517 Butler Avenue). The church also live streams worship service online at www.livestream.com/barchurch.
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