Fun Max hosts Clear Creek Community Church

WEBSTER — In the pre-dawn hours of a recent Sunday morning, five men struggled to shift a huge, deflated rubber bouncing platform to the back of a cavernous room. Sounds echoed in an empty space that would be filled to capacity with worshippers a few hours later when Clear Creek Community Church’s west campus congregation held the first of its two weekly services.

Later still, the volunteer crew would quickly pack up the portable stage, sound gear, lighting and children’s provisions, returning the gym-sized rooms to their normal function — Fun Max Jump-In, a children’s play place (“Where families have fun to the max.”)

Although Fun Max lacks stained glass, it serves as a reminder there is no one way to do church. The first churches met in family homes. Since then, the faithful have assembled in everything from dank catacombs to giant cathedrals.

Putting a church inside a kids’ bounce palace might not be a first for Christianity, but it does still attract attention as a worship venue, in part because of its much better-known, next-door neighbor.

It’s one slot over in this nondescript strip center off FM 528 West.

“People will call and ask where we are,” said Kari Murphy, who serves as the producer for Sundays here. “We ask them if they know where Fun Max is, but usually they don’t.

“So we’ll tell them we’re right next to Spec’s Liquor Warehouse.”

So far, no one has walked in with a wine list, Murphy said, but the name recognition seems to be paying off.

“People come in with no clue but are soon connected to the church,” she said.

Murphy’s producer credit might be a clue that this isn’t your average suburban fellowship. The preacher might be live or on DVD, depending on the week. This week, campus pastor Chris Alston is speaking live.

“I’ll be teaching live this morning, but we do about half and half with video teaching.”

Although Creek has a large campus on League City’s east side, Alston and other pastors observed the Gulf Freeway seems to serve as a barrier to visitors on Sunday mornings.

Worshippers seem to generally prefer attending churches on the same side of the freeway as their homes. Hence, the decision to rent this location, west of I-45, for the county’s largest church.

With a standing-room-only crowd in place, Alston begins his sermon on God’s warning labels. Later, there will be an open-air baptism on the sidewalk in front of Fun Max.

Michael Ryskoski, who has attended the church at its various locations for the last seven years, summed up the morning.

“It’s definitely different, but we’re willing to do whatever it takes,” he said.

Rick Cousins can be reached at ourfaith(at)galvnews.com.