Urban Connect hosted their first event to celebrate Easter Sunday at The Vintage 45, a new community building in the Phoenix Warehouse District.
“We are not trying to be a traditional church,” said Eneyas Freitas, Urban Connect’s pastor.
Freitas added that they are working toward building a welcoming atmosphere of acceptance.
“Urban Connect was created to bring together the community and create a place dedicated to serving,” he said.
David Perez, an Urban Connect church elder, said traditional churches typically hold members accountable for supporting the space. He said that not having the burden of supporting a building is an advantage.
“The Vintage 45 gives us the opportunity to utilize this space for events and as a place to gather,” Perez said.
The Vintage 45, formerly the Neil B. McGinnis warehouse, was recently renovated to host events with the capability to hold up to 1,000 people.
Urban Connect is able to spend their funds on service projects instead of the overhead for a building, Freitas said. He said that he hopes to include community members in the decisions regarding the free monthly events that the church hosts for the public.
The church hosts on seasonal community service events, Perez said, such as their upcoming swimsuit-donation event, which will allow kids to be able to swim in the new public pool who might not be able to otherwise. He said the church creates opportunities to connect with topic-based groups with in Urban Connect like Men’s Group, Downtown Devoted Dinners, Women’s group and Outdoor Sports Group.
“We hope to see Urban Connect branch out and make connections with groups like Young Life,” Urban Connect member Tim Brookshire said.
Urban Connect promotes themselves in the community through social media, newsletters and even in a more modern way, Perez said. Urban Connect reaches members through the new Urban Connect downloadable app.
The Urban Connect app allows the public to watch the pastors video, donate online and find ways to get involved through the church.
The Vintage 45 is hosting their official grand opening on April 11.
Contact the reporter at Ashley.Halpern@asu.edu.
