Dapto women say a coffee-shop style of church has what it takes to reach mothers struggling to make time for God.
Annaliza Wilkins drops her toddler at her child care centre and then starts inviting harried mothers to join her at the Café Church Anglicans have started across the road.
"I've had three kids there, so my face is familiar because I'm always there," she says.
"They usually say I’m doing shopping today or I’m studying. But I always give them a call a day before to remind them that the cafe church is on."
As a ‘welcomer’ for the new church plant, her friendly smile helps ease weary women into a congregation designed to fit their interests and needs.
"One Italian friend of mine I invited said to me, "It's so nice not to have to sit at home " I'm climbing the walls on my own, " she says.
The Wednesday morning service is a new initiative by the ministry team at Dapto Anglican Church that targets women on the edge of church work.
"There are in this area a number of women who don’t feel able to come to church on Sunday because their husband is not a Christian and he doesn’t want them to come," says co-ordinator Leigh-anne Semenchuk.
Mrs Semenchuk says the pressure to stay at home for family commitments then rules out Sunday Christian contact.
Mrs Wilkins believes the church plant speaks to busy women at a level they can understand.
"It works on your everyday life. It’s catering for everyday people but still deep enough to touch lives", she says.
Every aspect of Café Church is designed to connect women with the day's talk, from the handicraft games to the "Desperate Housewives' clips.
"We also have what we call table talk " small discussions around our coffee tables," says Mrs Semenchuk.
"It's something women particularly like to do. We start with a low-level conversation and shift to something deeper on the day's topic."
The church plant is averaging around 40 women, with a steady trickle of young mums drawn from other outreach events.
Read more in May Southern Cross
