Today's release of the film The Da Vinci Code is being used by one small church to turn movie-goers into Christ-seekers.
St Augustine's, Neutral Bay is seeking to reach hundreds of non-Christians with the gospel by inviting them to a private screening of The Da Vinci Code this evening.
The rector of St Augustine's, the Rev Craig Roberts says his goal is to see "movie-goers become Christ-seekers'.
"I want to encourage people to have a good time watching the movie then use it as a springboard to explore the questions raised by the movie. These are questions that lie at the heart of our faith," he says.
"It's a great opportunity. Sony Pictures is spending millions promoting the film, so I am happy to ride the crest of that wave and use it to promote the gospel."
Three months ago, St Augustine's parish council used $5000 from their evangelism budget to purchase 500 tickets. They secured ticket prices of just $10 each for tonight's private screening at the Cremorne Orpheum.
Three other local churches " St Luke's, Mosman, St Clement's, Mosman and Lighthouse Christian Church, Neutral Bay are helping St Augustine's to move a total of 700 tickets.
"Together we have sold 550 tickets and we'll easily sell the other 150 without too many problems," Mr Roberts says.
"It was brave of the parish council to see this opportunity coming, withhold their judgement of the film and use the money from the evangelism budget in this way."
Mr Roberts says people have been buying amounts of 10 and 20 tickets at a time.
"People are inviting groups of family members, friends and their whole office to the see the movie," he says.
Mr Roberts is confident that using the film is an effective way to get people investigating the gospel.
"It worked for us with The Passion of the Christ and since The Da Vinci Code is even more mainstream, it has an even broader appeal."
A three minute introduction from Mr Roberts will precede tonight's screening of The Da Vinci Code.
In the introduction, Mr Roberts will promote two events: a Challenging Da Vinci seminar which will be held at St Augustine's this Sunday from 4:00pm to 5:30pm and Christianity Explained " four one-hour meetings starting next Thursday in the home of Mr Roberts.
"We want our church members who brought their friends to the screening to bring them to these two events. It's evangelism in the context of relationships," Mr Roberts says.
"I am hoping this will put on the agenda the two questions on which Christianity stands or falls " Can we trust the Bible? And did Jesus rise from the dead?"
