So I Go To Toronto's Coolest Church

I bet as you were reading that title, you didn't expect the last word to be church.

Maybe even the idea of a cool church sounds so uncool but hear me out.

On Sunday mornings and, on the stoop outside Central Tech, a group of inked hipsters in flat-brim hats with ripped-jeans are drinking coffee next to waving black and yellow flags. 

Is this a pop-up store for Muttonhead? 

Actually, they’re waiting for C3 Toronto to start. I know because I’m probably in that flock you saw.

C3 Toronto made headlines around the world when it unveiled a Drake-inspired billboard downtown, with the slogan “For God So Loved the 6”. Yep, that’s my church.

Were you to wander inside, you’d find C3 Café, manned by baristas from some of Toronto’s coolest coffee shops, like Baddies on Lansdowne.

The service is starting. 

At many services, the auditorium is packed with upwards of 750 people so getting there early to get a seat is key. 

The band begins to play its trademark style of music, which is known as worship. Worship is basically rock about God, designed to be played in church.

The sermon is probably going to be delivered by Pastor Sam Picken (below), the lead pastor of C3 Toronto, an inked Aussie. 

So, what’s the best thing about going to Toronto’s coolest church? Is it…

• The Peace Collective t-shirts, tattoos and Drake references?
• The super professional Instagram account?
• That C3 Toronto actually just released an album, Above All, which climbed to number #2 on the iTunes “Inspirational” charts?

Actually, it’s the people themselves, underneath their trendy clothes.

C3 is about being authentic and not trying to do church. It’s just about letting people experience God without all the religion.

Whoa, that’s actually really cool.

What do you think? Can a church be 'cool'?