Last February, I had breakfast with my friend Don, who is in his 70s, a life-long Bristolian and a like-minded soul. Don said he had always wanted to start a movie club. So we began dreaming.

As contemplative Christians, we thought it would be fun to show movies with spiritual themes and have discussion afterwards. We pulled in our Mosaic Summer Ambassador, Lincoln, to help us build this ministry. Thus, the Bristol Film Club was born.

But then a weird thing happened. We planned our first business meeting, and none of our Christian friends showed up. But our neighbors did. And our planning team became a diverse and eclectic mix of people from all walks of life. Then the event took off.

We’ve had a full event every month. In September, we had a successful potluck as we watched Big Night, a movie about an Italian restaurant. In October, we partnered with the Bristol Ghost Tour, showed a short horror film made by a Bristol High School student and watched Night of the Living Dead. The room was full of life and energy.

I’ve struggled to articulate whether this is a church event or even to know for sure what God is up to in this. But I can say, six months in, Bristol Film Club has opened more relational channels than just about any church event I have created. My sense is that it is because I am building this with people, not for them.

We are working together. I am not trying to get them to come to my thing. It is our thing. Defensiveness is down, and the sense of friendship is up. Some on our team would have little to do with church but know far more about film than I do. More often than not, I follow their lead and learn from them. Suddenly, we are next to each other. And suddenly, we are friends.

Jesus is “Immanuel,” God with us. Jesus eats with sinners. He walks with the disciples. Jesus is with those in need, ready to break bread with them. He walks with people into the kingdom of God rather than waiting for them to show up.

Ultimately, I don’t know what God is doing with Bristol Film Club. But I have cherished the opportunity to work with my neighbors and create something beautiful together. I can’t help but feel that we are walking ­toward God together.

Gary Alloway is a leadership minister for Mosaic Mennonite Conference and pastor and church planter of Redemption Church of Bristol in Pennsylvania. This appeared originally in Mosaic News.