PERRYSBURG — People go to the movie theater for numerous reasons — comedy, action, science fiction or
drama, to name a few of the movie genres.
On Sundays at the Rave Cinemark theaters at Levis Commons, roughly 200 adults come each week with their
families for redemption.
That would be the Redemption City Church.
The non-denominational Christian church rents two theaters each week for two services. The one theater is
used for the adult worship service; while the second one is used for the youth program which serves
preschoolers through fifth grade.
According to the church’s lead pastor Steven Whitlow, church volunteers arrive around 6:45 a.m. each
Sunday to get the stages and the theater ready for their 9 and 10:45 a.m. worship services.
The church launched in October 2016 and has seen steady growth. Members started holding their worship
service at Holiday Inn, before moving to its current location.
“It’s a great natural environment,” Whitlow said of the theater. “It has plenty of comfortable seating
and big screens.”
Whitlow defined his church’s philosophy.
“Church is not a building, it’s not a business, it’s not a social club. Church is a family of Christ
coming together to worship Jesus,” he said. “Family is the key word. We try to treat everyone like
family.”
Whitlow has been involved with ministering since 2005, including a stint at Cedar Creek Church as a
student minister and teaching pastor. He left his position in that church in 2013.
“Our church is built on following certain practices,” he said. “Our motto is everybody is invited to
experience redemption in church.”
The services include biblical teaching of meaningful messages and the use of a full band in a family
environment.
“Our stage looks young but we have a really good breakdown of people. We do have lots of students but we
also have lots of senior citizens,” Whitlow said noting two elders who have some years under their
belts.
He attended Hillsdale College and the University of Toledo before joining Cedar Creek.
His wife Lindsay is the worship and creative pastor; Jake Michalski is the middle school pastor, and
Stephanie Krueger is the kids director. The elders are Frank Mihalik and Tom Hill. Lindsay Whitlow has
family ties to Dayspring Church in Bowling Green.
Redemption is officially non-denominational, but the pastor said it was more “multi-denominational.”
“We follow a standard evangelical doctrine,” he said.
Redemption City is not like other churches.
“There is no need to imitate them,” Whitlow said.
“Our graphics are modern, but the elements of our worship are simple but meaningful. We pray together”
and it is less flashy by design,” he said. “We offer something different.”
Whitlow said it is not unusual for churches to rent out movie theaters. Cinemark has 100 churches similar
to Redemption across the country, he said.
“They work very well with us,” he said.