The Beer Church movement is growing!
WWJB is in the news headlines:
"All good stories, all good beer, all good people, for that matter, have an origin." This is an interview with Chris Watkins, a co-founder of "What Would Jesus Brew?" It provides an in-depth look into why the group was started, and what motivates the existence of this movement.
Read More at American Craft: Los Angeles
This story supports responsible Christian drinking, but warns against replacing the worship of God with beer. They make a reference to our WWJB group, and we certainly agree with them. Beer is a blessing from God, but should not be confused with the worship of God. We are glad there are other Christian organizations such as this that promote responsible use of alcohol.
They provide reference to an NPR article about churches that are serving beer to attract people to church.
Have you heard of pub churches? Craft beer, God, and community. Welcome to one of many new venues and ways in which people are doing religion.
Think the bar is the only place you can get a cold beer? Think again. Craft beer is becoming so ubiquitous, it’s popping up in the most unlikely of places...like the yoga studio, and churches.
Several bars of the United States are opening spaces for groups of Bible reading...one of these groups, the "What Would Jesus Brew," the Valley Church, gets to use social networking to teach that the Bible does not condemn the assessment of drinks, but drunkenness.
It might not be as popular as St. Francis or St. Patrick, but growing numbers of beer-loving believers in Colorado Springs and around the country are raising their glasses to St. Arnold, the patron saint of hop-pickers and brewers...Protestants have events such as "Beer, Bible and Brotherhood" and "What Would Jesus Brew?" according to a story on CNN's Belief blog.
Read More at the Colorado Springs Gazette
The Valley Church, Allendale, Michigan, is the headquarters of the group "What Would Jesus Brew?", where beer is more than an adjunct of the discussion process. Their members declare mission "help people connect with each other and with God through the common appreciation of beer."
For years, beer and church were seen as being at odds. The long-bubbling streak of temperance that started with folks like Billy Sunday back in the Roaring Twenties led to clear lines between the piety of Sunday mornings and the revelry of Saturday nights. However, recent years have seen a growing shift of churches not only accepting beer, but adopting it. It’s being called “Beer Church” and while exact numbers are hard to come by, it’s attracting an awful lot of attention.
Read More at Relevant Magazine
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Something is brewing among American Protestants, and it has a decidedly hoppy flavor.
In an attempt to combat dwindling attendance levels and add new members to their shrinking congregations, some churches in the U.S. are starting to think outside the box -- by embracing the bottle.
For many, church time is a sobering time. But for a growing number of American Christians, it's the best time to crack open a beer...Religious leaders behind the trend defend this unique brand of worship. Among them is Pastor Matt Bistayi, who organizes Allendale, Mich., church meetings known as "What Would Jesus Brew?"
A new report released by NPR outlines that a number of congregations across America are now using beer as a way to attract new members...The Wall Street Journal covered a similar story earlier this year in highlighting the new trend, introducing its readers to a Saturday night gathering held by Pastor Matt Bistayi, who started Valley Church in Allendale, Michigan.
Read More at Christian News Network
ALLENDALE, MI — Beer and church may seem like strange bedfellows, but one congregation in Allendale is demonstrating how the art of making craft beer can help strengthen a person’s faith in God.
ALLENDALE, Mich.—As several of the faithful from the Valley Church here prepared to bow their heads in prayer to open a recent Saturday-evening meeting...Pastor Matt Bistayi, who started Valley Church three years ago, says the goal of WWJB isn't to be "churchy," but rather to "reach out to people in a loving, grace-filled way that meets people where they are and as they are."
Read more at the Wall Street Journal