God with coffee: Kingston Meeting Place offers unique faith experience

August 13, 2016September 8, 2016 Andrew Dietderich 462 Views 0 Comments

Pastor Tim Rich, of The Meeting Place, 5910 State St. (M-46), Kingston, sets up candles on the church’s altar earlier this week. The church is open to all and is designed to offer a unique religious experience. (Photo by John Cook)

KINGSTON — Pastor Tim Rich began having a small group to his house eight years ago with one goal: lead an informal discussion around his dining table based on the teachings of God.

He never thought in 2016 – and as happened last week – a new bell tower would be raised on a church he leads called The Meeting Place, 5910 State St. (M-46), Kingston.

“We started at the table like that because someone asked,” Rich said. “I thought they would go on to somewhere else eventually. We weren’t looking to start a church.”

But that’s exactly what happened.

Rich moved The Meeting Place into the former Christ the King Lutheran Church earlier this year. Currently renting from the village of Kingston, Rich said the hope is to buy it via land contract. A group involved with the church installed the new bell tower just last week.

The Meeting Place essentially serves two purposes: to provide a less formal approach to establishing or growing a relationship with God, Jesus or religion in general and to serve as an actual meeting place for the community — hence the name.

“We’re not trying to step on anyone’s toes here,” Rich said. “We are here for the purpose of making this a better community…if there are people who want a place to come and meet, then I want them here. (Read more)

(This story originally appeared in the Aug. 13, 2016 print edition of The Tuscola County Advertiser and can be read in its entirety here).