Bar Church Tulsa offers unique way to worship

by Lauren Dow
Journalism Intern

Though bar meet-ups and church-going are not generally synonymous, Bar Church Tulsa is “tabbing out” of tradition and making the bar their church.

The group, a branch of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Cherry Street in Tulsa, is led by Pastor Travis Ewton, an Associate Pastor of St. Paul’s. Though the group is run by St. Paul’s, Bar Church is primarily non-denominational Christian and seeks to draw in those who, as Pastor Ewton puts it, have “de-churched” or separated from their church.

“Bar Church Tulsa is for people who have been beat up, put down or turned off by church and want to act out their spiritual lives outside of a church setting,” according to their website.

Tulsa’s church follows the model of another Bar Church located in Colorado that handed out Peanut-butter jelly sandwiches to the homeless. St. Paul’s started the group two years ago; last year Pastor Travis Ewton took over the leadership of Bar Church.

Ewton has a passion for drawing in those who have been burned by the church but desire a spiritual community. The group does not limit themselves to bars, however; half of their meet-ups consist of mission work: handing out blessing bags, peanut-butter jelly sandwiches and talking with locals. Blessing bags are comprised of food, emergency blankets and thoughtful notes of kindness.

Travis Ewton says the goal is to live as Jesus would have, in every aspect of church and life. Bar church seeks to provide regular opportunities for mission and service within the community as well as a real connection to a faith based group. Pastor Ewton says that the majority of his congregation is seeking a faith-based community that practices what they preach and “seeks to imitate Christ in their lives.”

The mission half of their meet-ups is the true life-blood of the church, Pastor Ewton says, “Mission-oriented folks get turned off to church when they don’t feel like they are making an impact in the community.”

The congregation is primarily made up of 20 to 30-somethings who don’t feel they fit in to a traditional church. This includes members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as well as those who feel the attitude of traditional churches does not reflect their personal beliefs. Bar Church sermons tackle “real-stuff”, like how to navigate relationships and community building.

Pastor Travis Ewton said, “Our goal and desire is to be a safe space for people to have safe conversations and to be a part of a faith community while avoiding the negative aspects of traditional church.”

The Bar Church often incites double-takes or confusion, but the reception from the community has been supportive, according to Ewton. The two bars they utilize for meetings are Inner Circle Vodka Bar and 15 Below Gastro Pub. Each bar offers a different experience and atmosphere for the congregation, but both enjoy the increase in business on typically slow Monday nights. The congregation is encouraged to grab a beer and a bite to support the local businesses.

Bar church meetings vary from venue to venue. Ewton says members attend specific services based on what they need from their faith community, and that’s a “win” for Bar Church; whose mission focuses on loving and accepting, just as Jesus would—without judgment.

Bar Church meets for services on the first and third Monday of the month at Inner Circle Bar and 15 below, respectively. They meet the second and fourth Saturday of each month at the bus station on Denver Avenue Station to hand out blessing bags and interact with the local community. They are always accepting new members. Check them out on Facebook at Bar Church Tulsa or on the web at www.barchurchtulsa.org.

Copyright 2016 The Gayly – August 19, 2016 @ 7:10 a.m.