Niche Churches

[Dante]

I define a "niche church" as a community of believers that target a very narrow and specific group of people for the sake of evangelization.

For example: A few weeks ago I was driving through downtown and I noticed a new church that has made its presence in our community. They purchased an old chop-shop garage and have remodeled the inside suitable for a place of worship. However, they advertise themselves as a church for Bikers (motorcyclists) and call themselves "Freedom Biker Church." Obviously, they are a ministry and church specifically designed to meet the needs of Bikers who want to maintain that culture and lifestyle, but also express their Christian faith.

Another example is a church that specifically reaches out to people in a sub-culture known as "Goth" or "Punk." These are a group (mostly young people under the age of 40) who enjoy dressing in black and wearing black and white makeup, and have a very frightening appearance to most people. They refer to themselves as "The First Church of the Living Dead."

Personally, considering how institutionalized Christianity has become in America, I don't see a problem with "specialized churches." After all, we have specialized doctors who focus on certain parts of the body and who focus on treating specific ailments. I think American Christianity has been to busy trying to be all things to all people that it's failing to do that, and can't be a catch-all for everyone like it hopes to be. So, I think specialized ministries reaching out to specific groups of people is a good thing.

What are your thoughts?