New church connects with disenfranchised
TORONTO, ON - If you've ever felt unwelcome in the church pews, Ricardo Rios has got a church for you.
Last September, Rios and his wife Gaile launched Refuel Church, a place for those who felt like giving up on traditional worship.
"We started to see a lot of people who wanted nothing to do with church," Rios says, "because they'd been hurt. We really wanted to cater to those people and refuel them."
Refuel started in an industrial complex with small Monday night meetings. Then this May, they launched a Sunday morning service. The congregation currently stands at a few dozen.
Rios is also founder of Unashamed Generation Ministries (UGM). The interdenominational equipping ministry for youth workers brings together more than 750 young people a month for worship and teaching events.
Before planning Refuel, Rios conducted a survey.
"We said, 'If you don't go to a church, we want to know why'," he says. "A lot of people came back saying they don't go to church because of criteria they feel they had to meet. Too many pastors had told them, 'If you don't do things this way, if you don't act that way, if you don't dress the way we say, you are condemned and God isn't going to like you.'
"The funny thing is they really liked Jesus, they just didn't like church."
Rios says Refuel aims to combine practical, applicable teaching with a casual atmosphere.
"It's really relaxed," he says. "It's come as you are. You don't have to hide your tattoos or take out your earrings."
Refuel is now planning the launch of "regroup" Bible studies in the fall. The congregation is also holding a series of monthly community events, including a garage give-away, Thanksgiving dinner and free Christmas gift wrapping. Rios hopes to eventually be able to plant other Refuel locations across the city.
"It's been pretty cool, and we're excited to see what happens next," he says. "We're committed to those who are far away from God. We have a heart for them. So does Jesus."
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