Live, work ... and pray

Since October, Atlantic Station has attracted throngs of people looking to shop, eat and socialize. The mini-city has touted itself as an inclusive “live, work and play” community, where patrons only have to walk two blocks to get anything they want.

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And now, the intown retail district has something new to offer: church.

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On Easter Sunday (April 16), Destiny World Church will open an intown branch in the ballroom of Twelve Hotel and Residences. The Austell-based church, which has 2,000 members including state Rep. Alisha Thomas-Morgan, hopes to attract a following that reflects Midtown’s eclectic community.

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The addition of a nontraditional, evangelical church at Atlantic Station is the latest sign that the suburbs are moving intown. The Edgewood Retail District recently brought ‘burb-style big box retailers such as Target, Lowe’s and Best Buy to the Little Five Points area. And, of course, Atlantic Station is home to one of the meccas of suburbia, IKEA.

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Earlier this year, Mayor Shirley Franklin signed a three-week ban on tear-downs in the city to try to curb the number of McMansions being built by well-heeled citizens. Just last week, the first Wal-Mart inside the perimeter opened off Gresham Road. And next month, construction crews will break ground on the ultra-chic St. Regis hotel and condo complex where many suburbanites, in an effort to downsize, have already purchased space.

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“There’s a large number of people moving back to the city,” says Wilbur T. Purvis III, pastor of Destiny World Church. “Many of them might be looking for or missing a spiritual element in their lives. We want to provide them a fresh perspective on religion.”

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Purvis says Destiny World church has signed a four-month lease with Twelve to occupy the ballroom, which can hold up to 600 people, each Sunday morning while the church looks for a permanent space in Midtown. Atlantic Station spokeswoman Kristen Stone says Destiny World Church isn’t looking to permanently lease space within the 1 million-square-foot shopping neighborhood.

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Purvis says the intown location will make Destiny World Church “one church with two locations” — almost like a chain church. Purvis toyed with the idea after he learned that a pastor in Houston, Texas, opened a couple locations of one church successfully. He’ll lead all three services — two at the Austell location and one intown — on Sunday mornings.

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Purvis says he hopes his “fresh” approach to religion, which includes dancing and “holy hip-hop” in services, will attract people who might not connect with a traditional church experience.

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“This isn’t your grandmother’s church,” Purvis says. “There’s a certain liberty in our service that makes people feel comfortable.”

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Claudia Arango, a resident of Atlantic Station, says she hasn’t heard about Destiny World Church’s services, but would be willing to give it a try.

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“Church helps round out a community,” Arango says. “I think it’s good for residents who might not want to travel far for their religion. It’ll be convenient.”

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Destiny World Church will hold its first intown service April 16 at 9:30 a.m. in the ballroom at Twelve Hotel and Residences. For more information about Destiny World Church, visit www.destinyworldchurch.org.