Silicon Valley is a breeding ground for innovative and disruptive technology that has changed the way Americans live. Tech innovators like Facebook, Uber and Google all have offices in the California valley and have led the way to a future America.
Silicon Valley’s future America, though, hasn’t included church for the most part. A recent survey from The Barna Group found that San Francisco and Silicon Valley are two of the least church-going areas of the country. This may be because most of the people in Silicon Valley view tech, money and success as their deities, BBC reported.
But in recent months, Silicon Valley workers have started filing into the pews in search of some form of spirituality that their work hasn’t given them, BBC reported.
“A lot of people come out here and they find that you’re making more money than you know what to do with, you’re being promoted to a position greater than you ever thought you could be, but it’s not really fulfilling your soul,” 25-year-old Austin Walterman, who works in Silicon Valley, told BBC.
Here are four Silicon Valley churches that are drawing locals to the pews.
Epic Church
Epic Church is a new Christian congregation in San Francisco that often draws a lot of Silicon Valley’s faithful, according to The Guardian.
True to form, the church’s website has a very modern, tech startup feel to it.
The church also appeals to a younger demographic with some of its church meetings. As seen in the video below, bands come in to play tunes for worshippers who attend services.
About Us from Epic Church on Vimeo.
C3 Church
The global Christian church group C3 has locations across the world from Brazil to London. And, yes, even Silicon Valley.
The church, known as C3SV to those in the northern California valley, boasts vibrant colors and rock music. It holds services in both San Jose and the Palo Alto campus in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Like other churches in the startup hotbed, C3 offers a unique experience that caters to a younger crowd. Watch the video below to see how.
C3 Church SV Experience from C3 Church SV on Vimeo.
The Table
The Table is a new ministry to the San Francisco area that has also attracted some Silicon Valley workers, according to The Guardian. The church is a nondenominational Christian congregation that began as a gathering in an art gallery, according to The Table’s website.
Since that time, the church has grown and added members who host parties, complete service projects and cook meals for members and outsiders, the website said.
“We recognize that each of us has a unique story and a desire to be known and loved,” the church’s website says. “Our community is a safe place to process your thoughts, questions and feelings about God. Everyone is welcome and everyone is respected.”
Reality SF
Reality SF (often written as R/SF in a cool, startup way) is a church in the San Francisco area that offers online video sermons and events.
The church also publishes memes and service invitations on its Instagram and Facebook, showing that it's a church for the technology age and social media user.
Related links:
High tech and faith in Silicon Valley help eradicate poverty
What people never mention when they talk about Silicon Valley
How Silicon Valley is changing the way we help the homeless
Herb Scribner is a writer for Deseret News National. Send him an email at hscribner@deseretdigital.com or follow him on Twitter @herbscribner.